PC David Carrick: Met Police officer to appear in court charged with rape

A Metropolitan police officer has been charged with rape.

PC David Carrick, 46, of Stevenage, Hertfordshire,  is due to appear via video link at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court on 4 October.

The news comes just days after former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens was sentenced for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.

When was PC David Carrick charged?

Carrick, who is based within the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was charged with rape by Hertfordshire Constabulary on Sunday (3 October).

Hertfordshire Constabulary said the alleged offence is reported to have occurred on 4 September 2020 in St Albans.

The Met said the officer was off-duty in Hertfordshire at the time of the alleged rape.

Carrick was arrested on Saturday (2 October) by Hertfordshire Constabulary and suspended the same day by the Metropolitan Police.

The force said it awaits the outcome of criminal proceedings and that a referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said Carrick remains in custody.

What did Dame Cressida Dick say?

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said: “I am deeply concerned to hear the news today that an officer from the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command has been arrested and now charged with this serious offence.

“I fully recognise the public will be very concerned too.

“Criminal proceedings must now take their course so I am unable to comment any further at this stage.”

What did the CPS say?

Malcom McHaffie, the chief crown prosecutor of CPS Thames and Chiltern, said on Sunday: “The CPS has today authorised Hertfordshire Constabulary to charge serving Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick, 46, with one count of rape following an alleged attack on a woman on the night of 4 September 2020.”

He added: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has a right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. NationalWorld is a new national news brand, produced by a team of journalists, editors, video producers and designers who live and work across the UK. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.