Failed inquiry into Met PC rapist 'based on smear'

Allegations that a Met Police detective failed to oversee a thorough investigation into serial rapist David Carrick are "based on smear", a tribunal has heard.

Carrick, 51, who served as an armed officer in the same force, is one of the UK's most prolific sex offenders and is currently serving 37 life sentences after attacking more than a dozen women.

Officer A, line-managed by Det Sgt Ray Mackennon, was appointed to investigate Carrick in August 2021 after a woman told police that Carrick had raped her multiple times during their five-month relationship, a misconduct hearing heard.

Mackennon worked as a detective constable within the Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) in 2021.

He is accused of failing to ensure Officer A adequately investigated the allegations against Carrick made by the woman - referred to as Female E.

His alleged failures have been attributed to "unconscious or conscious bias regarding Female E's sex or race," Kevin Saunders, for the Met Police, previously told the misconduct hearing in south London.

But Fraser Coxhill, representing Mackennon, told the panel on Thursday the allegations were a "smear" and an attempt to "make an example" of the detective.

"The allegations against Det Sgt Mackennon are based on nothing more than assumption, speculation and hyperbole, and smear," Coxhill said.

"Instead of recognising the reality of systemic organisational failure in training and policy, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has directed that an example is made of a long-serving, loyal, highly recommended and respected police officer."

It is also alleged Mackennon failed to ensure or direct Officer A to contact Female E or other witnesses in the matter and failed to ensure Officer A adequately investigated "derogatory, misogynistic, sexualised and grossly offensive Facebook messages" between Carrick and Female E's partner, the panel previously heard.

At the time, Carrick, who lived in Stevenage, was a serving Metropolitan Police officer.

In the Facebook messages, Carrick had told Female E's partner to "use her for sex but do not marry her", the panel was told.

The tribunal heard Mackennon did not formally include the messages as being part of the allegations against Carrick, describing them as "crude but, on the face of it, personal" and, therefore, not a breach of professional standards.

Mackennon also wrote in a report that "there were discrepancies around the account given by the complainant" - referred to as Female E - and made reference to a suggestion that "the allegation was for revenge", the tribunal heard.

Mackennon nonetheless denied having ever called the complainant's credibility into question during the course of the investigation.

Shortly after making her complaint, Female E told police she wanted to stop the criminal investigation into Carrick as she did not feel "mentally strong enough" to continue, the misconduct panel heard.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, Mackennon said the DPS was "probably the most overwhelming department I had ever worked in" - having transferred over from Counter-Terrorism.

He also told the tribunal it was "unfortunately not unusual" for the DPS to deal with allegations of rape and domestic abuse against police officers.

The panel is expected to return a verdict on Friday.

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