The police force which investigated serial rapist David Carrick has had 16 of its own involved in a sexual assault allegation since 2013.
In addition to the 16 officers or staff involved, Hertfordshire Constabulary knows about 21 separate allegations of sexual assault or rape involving its current employees between January 2013 to January 2023 , according to a Freedom of Information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The force also has records of 40 allegations of domestic abuse involving its own officers and staff across the decade, with 23 serving employees having been involved in a domestic abuse allegation throughout the period.
The way the data is recorded means some allegations may relate to the same event.
READ MORE: Police chief speaks out after Herts officer jailed for raping child
Hertfordshire police were responsible for investigating Carrick, who was a serving Metropolitan Police officer when he was arrested at his home in Stevenage in October 2021.
The 48-year-old from Stevenage has since pleaded guilty to 85 offences across 49 charges – including 24 counts of rape and three counts of coercive and controlling behaviour.
He was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison on February 7 this year.
‘Majority of officers strive to protect most vulnerable’
Hertfordshire Assistant Chief Constable Genna Telfer said it is right police across the UK learn lessons from the Carrick case.
She said: “In the wake of the recent sentencing of Met police officer David Carrick it is only right that the police service as a whole should be subjected to closer scrutiny.
READ MORE: Rapist Met Police officer David Carrick jailed for 30 years
“David Carrick acted in the most appalling way causing significant harm to his victims and damaging wider confidence in the police service. It is vital that as a service nationally we learn from this case and take any associated action.
“The majority of hard working officers strive to protect the most vulnerable rather than cause harm and there is no place in policing for individuals like David Carrick.”
Over the decade to January 2023, the Hertfordshire force has dismissed three of its officers or staff following a sexual assault allegation or conviction.
The constabulary has also dealt with 50 reports of domestic abuse involving serving or former police officers from any force – Hertfordshire, London and beyond – and three sexual assault reports for officers’ involvement in sexual assault or rape.
In 2022, at least three officers with links to Hertfordshire Constabulary were jailed for their involvement in sex crimes.
READ MORE: Former Herts detective barred from policing for life over extreme porn
James Ford, aged 31, formerly of Bishop’s Stortford, was jailed for more than 18 years after he was found guilty of raping a girl under the age of 13.
Ben Pitelen, aged 45, who worked in Stevenage, was sentenced to 25 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.
Stuart Cheek, aged 43, who worked in Welwyn Garden City, resigned from the force in June 2022, pleaded guilty to possessing extreme porn, and was jailed for a year.
Pitelen and Cheek were not charged with sexual assault or rape.
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