A catastrophic failure in vetting procedures at the Metropolitan Police allowed more than 5,000 officers and staff to join the force without proper background checks over a decade, an internal review has found. The systemic errors left serial rapists, including David Carrick, within the ranks, undermining public safety and trust in Britain's largest police service.
Scale of the Vetting Breakdown
The review, commissioned by the Home Office, examined recruitment and vetting practices from 2013 to 2023. It concluded that the Met had lowered its safeguards during this period, leading to a dereliction of its fundamental duty to protect Londoners.
The force estimates that over 5,000 individuals were recruited without the correct checks. Furthermore, it cannot confirm whether any pre-employment vetting was conducted for approximately 17,000 officers and staff already in post. Alarmingly, the report identified 1,400 serving officers who should have been flagged by vetting but retained their police powers.
Criminals Exploited Systemic Failures
The consequences of these failures were horrifically realised in multiple high-profile cases. The defective system allowed individuals with serious criminal histories or allegations to join or remain in the force.
David Carrick, one of the UK's most prolific sex offenders, was able to pass re-vetting in 2017 despite a series of prior complaints. He was later convicted of 85 offences, including 48 rapes, many committed after he was re-vetted. Carrick exploited his status as a Met officer to intimidate and silence his victims.
Another offender, Cliff Mitchell, was hired despite an unresolved child rape allegation. He was later convicted of ten counts of rape, including three against a child under 13.
In total, the review found evidence that 131 officers committed criminal or misconduct offences linked to the vetting failures. These ranged from rape and drug offences to hate crimes and being intoxicated while on duty.
Pressure to Recruit and a 'Culture of Deviation'
The report blames the failings on a highly pressurised recruitment environment, particularly during the national 'Police Uplift Programme' between 2020 and 2023. To hit government targets of 20,000 new officers, the Met reportedly removed hurdles to speed up the process from application to deployment.
This pressure created a culture where vetting standards were relaxed. The error was initially noticed because the refusal rate for applicants fell significantly below the historical average. The Met's report states the deviations in process directly contributed to police-perpetrated harm and public distrust.
While some of the decision-makers responsible are still employed by the force, the Met insists standards are now significantly higher. It claims to have removed 1,500 individuals since Sir Mark Rowley became Commissioner in 2022.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the findings, stating: "Abandoning vetting checks on officers was a dereliction of the Met’s duty to keep London safe. Londoners rightly expect officers to undergo robust checks so that the brightest and best – not criminals – are policing our streets."
The review also established that five other police forces in England and Wales had made similar vetting errors, suggesting the issue may extend beyond the Met.
