A serving Metropolitan Police detective has called for Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to resign, accusing the force of mishandling her rape case and worsening the trauma she experienced.
Detective Constable Linda Williams told the BBC that the Metropolitan Police’s handling of her civil claim against the force felt “like being raped all over again”.
Williams was raped in 2004 by former police officer David Carrick, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2023 for sexual offences against her and 11 other women.
She later sought compensation from the Metropolitan Police, arguing that the force had failed to protect her from Carrick. The civil proceedings lasted four years and have since been settled, with the force paying compensation without admitting liability.
According to Williams, lawyers representing the Met questioned the severity of her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), arguing that the abuse was limited to a single incident.
The BBC reported that it had seen a document from the force stating that the abuse was “isolated to a single episode” when assessing the damages claim.
Williams said the approach left her feeling that the psychological impact of the rape had been dismissed. She believes much of her trauma resulted from the force’s handling of the case rather than the attack itself.
The detective, who has served in the Metropolitan Police for 27 years, said she did not report the rape when it happened because she feared the professional consequences and believed she would not be supported by colleagues.
She eventually reported Carrick to Hertfordshire Police in 2021 after seeing media reports that he had been charged with raping another woman. Hertfordshire Police investigated the case that led to his prosecution.
Williams said she no longer trusts the Metropolitan Police to handle sexual offence cases appropriately and would not report a similar incident to the force today.
Her criticism comes amid wider scrutiny of the Met’s culture following several scandals involving serving officers. A 2023 report by Baroness Louise Casey found the force to be institutionally misogynistic.
Following Carrick’s conviction, Rowley apologised to his victims and acknowledged that the force had failed to prevent him from serving as a police officer.
Williams said she remains dissatisfied with the commissioner’s response and believes more substantial changes are needed to protect victims and rebuild trust.
The Metropolitan Police said it had sought to minimise further distress to Williams and handle her claim as quickly and compassionately as possible. The force also acknowledged the additional impact of her experience as a serving officer.
A spokesperson said Rowley had contacted Williams to ask whether she would be willing to meet again to discuss the issues.
Williams said she was speaking publicly to support other victims and push for changes within the force, but questioned whether the current commissioner could deliver the reforms she believes are necessary.
