Police officer raped by David Carrick says Met chief must resign

A police detective raped by fellow officer and notorious sexual predator David Carrick has called for the head of the Metropolitan Police to resign. <p>Linda Williams, 60, was attacked by Carrick in 2004 and recently received a six-figure payout from the London force.</p><p><strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/david-carrick-9724/1">Carrick</a></strong>, 51, an armed officer with the Met, is <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/former-met-police-officer-david-carrick-given-additional-life-sentence-over-sex-offences-13472902" target="_self">serving 37 life sentences</a> </strong>as one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders.</p><p>He was <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/david-carrick-evil-met-police-officer-who-was-unmasked-as-serial-rapist-jailed-for-at-least-30-years-12805072">jailed for at least 30 years in 2023</a></strong> for a "catalogue of violent and brutal sexual offences", including 48 rapes, against 12 women over nearly two decades.</p><p>In November last year, he was convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl in the late 1980s and repeatedly raping and abusing a former partner.</p><widget id="10"></widget><p>Ms Williams, from Hertfordshire, who has waived her right to anonymity, said <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/metropolitan-police-6381/1">the Met</a></strong> treated her with a "complete lack of empathy" as she sought compensation and that she had considered suicide.</p><p>"The whole process has taken me right back to how I felt when I was raped by Carrick, controlled, abused and powerless," she said.</p><p>"If I was raped tomorrow, I wouldn't report it. Both the criminal justice process and the civil process have been so traumatic.</p><p>"I say that as someone who was once a sexual offences officer, supporting victims myself."</p> <widget id="14"></widget><p>She added: "At no point did I feel they [the Met] sincerely acknowledged that I had been through a horrific sexual attack and that the trauma of that had deeply scarred me, or their role in it all.</p><p>"They used the fact that I just got on with my life as best I could after the rape against me."</p><p>Ms Williams said she wants the Met to do more to protect women and girls from violence and believes the man at the top, commissioner <strong><a href="https://news.sky.com/topic/mark-rowley-10849/1">Sir Mark Rowley</a></strong>, must go.</p><p>"Mark Rowley will say they are doing everything they can to stop violence against women and girls, I disagree," said Ms Williams.</p><p>"The Met need to set up a unit overseen by victims like me who understand what it is like to be raped. For this to happen Rowley needs to go and we need a new commissioner."</p> <widget id="11"></widget><p>Ms Williams didn't report the rape until 2021 and said trauma from the attack 22 years ago has meant she hasn't had any relationships since.</p><p>"After the attack, I couldn't face the thought of being with a man or even having somebody in my home," she said.</p><p>"That makes for a lonely Christmas and no holidays. It's my choice but the reason behind it wasn't my choice. That's down to the attack. Carrick stole the future that I wanted."</p><p>Ms Williams said she didn't report the rape at the time as she believed nothing would happen, and it could have put her in danger.</p><p>"I wouldn't have had the back up of my colleagues in dangerous situations and ultimately, I doubt anything would have been done about Carrick," said Ms Williams.</p> <widget id="13"></widget><p><strong>Met 'truly sorry'</strong></p><p>A Met Police spokesperson said the force was "truly sorry for the harm and suffering [Carrick] caused his victims" and the "serious flaws" that meant he wasn't caught earlier.</p><p>"We recognise the unique and additional impact on DC Linda Williams, whose exposure to Carrick came as a result of her being a Met officer," the spokesperson said.</p><p>"Her continued commitment to public service, in spite of the trauma she experienced, is commendable."</p> <widget id="9"></widget><p>The spokesperson said the Met had tried to "reduce further distress and retraumatisation" to Ms Williams and "has aimed to deal with her claims as quickly and compassionately as possible".</p><p>"The commissioner has previously met with DC Williams in person as well as spoken to her via email on multiple occasions," the statement added.</p><p>It said Sir Mark had "repeatedly acknowledged" her courage and had contacted her to see if she would be willing to meet again to "further discuss these issues".</p><p><strong>Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit <a href="http://samaritans.org" target="_blank">samaritans.org</a> in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.</strong></p>