Serving Officer Who Was Raped by David Carrick Calls for Met Police Chief's Resignation

A serving female police officer, Detective Constable Linda Williams, who was raped by notorious serial offender David Carrick, has publicly called for the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. Williams, who has waived her right to anonymity, stated that while the Met Police culture can be turned around, she does not believe Sir Mark Rowley is the leader to achieve that change.

Carrick, a former Met Police officer and one of the UK's most prolific sex offenders, is currently serving 37 life sentences for attacks on more than a dozen women. Williams was attacked by Carrick in 2004 during a three-month attachment with him in south London. At the time, Williams was a rape investigation officer herself.

Williams received a six-figure payout from the Met Police, described as 'compensation without acceptance of liability,' after settling her civil case. She described the force's handling of her case as 'devastating,' likening the experience to 'being raped again' and stating her post-traumatic stress disorder was '90 per cent down to the Met Police, 10 per cent to Carrick.' She recounted that Met lawyers challenged the severity of her PTSD, questioning if it could be severe as she had only been raped once.

Reflecting on her decades-long service, Williams described experiences of sexism within the force, including having 'Property of the Met' stamped on her forehead and being locked in the boot of a police car. She believes the Met's actions during the civil proceedings, particularly the legal challenges to her trauma, made her feel controlled, abused, and powerless, echoing the feelings from the original assault.

Williams reported the attack in 2021, 17 years after it occurred. She stated that the ordeal has prevented her from having romantic relationships since the rape, significantly impacting her life and future. She expressed that despite her professional understanding of the justice system, she would not report a similar incident today due to the lack of empathy and support she experienced.

She argued that the force's culture in 2004 made reporting an assault by a fellow officer seem impossible, comparing it to an episode of 'Life on Mars,' where she feared she would not have colleague support and that nothing would be done about Carrick's actions. She also noted that the Met used her continued good performance at work to dispute the severity of her psychological trauma.

Williams has advocated for changes to the support systems within the Met, proposing a new unit overseen by victims. She stated that attempts to establish similar systems have been met with resistance from the force, which claims to provide sufficient support. Williams believes that for meaningful change to occur, a new commissioner is needed.

In response, a Met Police spokesperson acknowledged Carrick's offenses and expressed deep regret for the missed opportunities to address his behavior. The spokesperson stated that the force recognizes the unique impact on DC Williams due to her being an officer at the time of the assault. The statement indicated that the Met has aimed to handle her claims compassionately and quickly, and that the Commissioner has met and communicated with DC Williams, acknowledging her courage in speaking out and inviting her to further discuss the issues in person.