Met Detective Details Trauma After Rape by Colleague and Internal Handling of Case

A Metropolitan Police detective, identified as Det Con Linda Williams, has spoken out about the profound trauma she experienced after being raped by a colleague, PC David Carrick, in 2004. She stated that the subsequent handling of her case by the Met, including a lengthy civil claim for damages, was "like being raped all over again." Carrick, a serial abuser, was jailed for life in 2023 for sexual offenses against Williams and 11 other women.

Williams, who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the attack, said the civil case left her feeling suicidal. She was particularly distressed when lawyers representing the Met commissioner challenged the severity of her PTSD by suggesting it was less severe because she had been raped only once. The Met has stated that it "tried to reduce further distress and re-traumatisation to DC Williams' welfare and has aimed to deal with her claims as quickly and compassionately as possible," acknowledging the unique impact on her as a Met officer.

In an unprecedented move for a serving officer, Williams is now publicly calling for the resignation of Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, whom she believes has failed to change police culture as promised. She expressed a lack of trust in her own force to handle such cases correctly, stating that she would not report a rape to the Met today.

Sir Mark took on the role of Met Commissioner in 2022, pledging to reform the force, which was facing scrutiny following the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer and other scandals. After Carrick's conviction in January 2023, Sir Mark praised the victims and stated, "We have failed and I'm sorry. He should not have been a police officer." However, an official report by Baroness Casey released two months later described the Met as institutionally misogynistic and a "a boys' club" that had failed women.

Williams decided to speak to the BBC after seeing a Panorama report on misogyny and racism within the Met. She reported the rape by Carrick in 2021 to Hertfordshire Police, who investigated the case, after seeing media coverage of Carrick's charges for another rape. Williams herself had worked as a rape investigation officer in the early 2000s, a role that made her decision not to report her own assault even more difficult.

She recounted how Carrick raped her one night when she stayed at his home after a late shift in south London. When she told him no, he reportedly said, "It's what I do. I'm going to carry on." Williams felt unable to fight back for fear of violence and did not report the incident, believing it would have ended her career and led to her being ostracized.

Williams described the culture within the Met at the time as "very sexist," recalling instances such as having her forehead stamped with "Property of the Met" and being locked in the boot of a police car. The mental and emotional impact of the rape has been significant, leading her to live a lonely life, focus on work and pets, and avoid romantic relationships since the attack.

During her civil case, which spanned four years, Williams stated that the Met's legal team questioned the severity of her PTSD diagnosis and argued that her psychological harm was not significant for at least 15 years after the rape. The Met's legal approach, she said, felt like a re-traumatization. She believes the commissioner is personally responsible for this handling of her case.

While Sir Mark Rowley publicly apologized to Carrick's victims at the time of his conviction, Williams felt the apology lacked detail and did not resonate with her. She initiated contact with him, hoping for a more personal acknowledgment, and though they met, she found the commissioner to lack empathy and to be more focused on public perception than on supporting victims or officers. She reiterated her call for his resignation, stating she does not believe he is fit for the job. The Met has stated that the commissioner has acknowledged Williams' courage and has invited her to meet again to discuss these issues further.