A review reveals London’s Metropolitan Police approved applicants from minority groups who failed vetting to meet recruitment targets, leading to predators joining
Police Diversity Drive Led to Vetting Failures
A review reveals that a police diversity initiative allowed sexual predators and violent offenders to serve as officers or support staff.
The Metropolitan Police approved applicants from minority groups who did not pass vetting to meet recruitment targets under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Cliff Mitchell failed vetting, but a panel overturned the decision to allow him to join to meet diversity quotas. Credit: PA
Serial rapist David Carrick was not investigated for claims of domestic abuse, which would have been identified during proper vetting. Credit: PA
Details of Offenders
| Name | Offense | Sentence | Vetting Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cliff Mitchell | 13 counts of rape, including 3 against a child under 13 | 17.5 years | Failed vetting, decision overturned |
| David Carrick | Multiple rapes | 37 life sentences | Not investigated for domestic abuse |
Mitchell, 26, who is black, had been investigated for child rape, but the case was dropped. In total, 114 vetting decisions were overruled by the panel. Of those, 25 individuals went on to commit criminal offenses or other misconduct.
Some applicants were not checked against police terrorism records. Out of 1,450 officers who were not vetted to current standards, 131 later committed crimes. Checks on officers joining from other forces were waived.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated, “Abandoning vetting was a dereliction of the Met’s duty to keep London safe.”
