One of Greater Manchester's leading police officers insists cops who abuse their position of power will be 'rooted out and sacked'. It comes after the Metropolitan Police sacked 48-year-old David Carrick, who has admitted dozens of rape and sexual offences.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has today called on police forces across the country to 'root out corrupt officers' in the wake of Carrick's conviction. The Met says it is now investigating 1,000 sexual and domestic abuse claims, which involve 800 of its officers.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester's Mike Sweeney, Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods admitted a 'very small percentage' of Greater Manchester Police's officers are currently under investigation, although he wouldn't put a figure on the exact number. He said: "In most forces in this country, I'd be pretty confident in saying that we are investigating a very small number of police officers."
DCC Woods added: "It's a very, very small percentage of the 8,000 that we employ. We have, when you look at the people that we have fired in the last 12 months, there have been a number of people where that's been related to sexual offences."
Promising a 'zero tolerance' approach to issues including sexual abuse being carried out by officers, DCC Woods insisted that investment in GMP's vetting process and professional standards branch were top priorities when Chief Constable Stephen Watson joined the force in 2021. He described the 'very large' vetting unit at GMP as carrying out its work 'to a very high standard'.
"We will root out people who we need to root out and we will sack them," DCC Woods added. "It's the biggest issue at the moment in policing."
Carrick was able to serve as a police officer with The Met for 20 years and was once a highly trusted armed officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said weak policies and decisions had allowed Carrick to remain with the force, despite repeated complaints being made against him.
On Monday, Carrick appeared at Southwark Crown Court to plead guilty to a number of offences. He has now admitted 49 charges, including 24 counts of rape against 12 women over an 18-year period.
DCC Woods told the BBC: "This individual is a complete disgrace to policing and society, and this issue is absolutely critical to UK policing. We're an unarmed service, we police by consent, it's unique in the world - we need legitimacy and support of the public in order to get our job done and best protect people."
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