Metropolitan Police officer Pc David Carrick charged with rape

A serving Metropolitan Police officer - who served in the same unit as disgraced ex-cop Wayne Couzens - has been charged with rape.

PC David Carrick, 46, of Stevenage, Herts,  is due to appear via video link at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court today.

Carrick is based within the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, which was the same unit as Sarah Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens.

He was charged with rape by Hertfordshire Constabulary on Sunday.

The force said that the alleged offence is reported to have occurred on September 4 2020 in St Albans, Herts.

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

Carrick was arrested on Saturday 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 Dame Cressida Dick said

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 the CPS has said

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.”