Police officer raped by David Carrick says Met chief must resign

A police detective raped by fellow officer and notorious sexual predator David Carrick has called for the head of the Metropolitan Police to resign.

Linda Williams, 60, was attacked by Carrick in 2004 and recently received a six-figure payout from the London force.

Carrick, 51, an armed officer with the Met, is serving 37 life sentences as one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders.

He was jailed for at least 30 years in 2023 for a "catalogue of violent and brutal sexual offences", including 48 rapes, against 12 women over nearly two decades.

In November last year, he was convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl in the late 1980s and repeatedly raping and abusing a former partner.

Ms Williams, from Hertfordshire, who has waived her right to anonymity, said the Met treated her with a "complete lack of empathy" as she sought compensation and that she had considered suicide.

"The whole process has taken me right back to how I felt when I was raped by Carrick, controlled, abused and powerless," she said.

"If I was raped tomorrow, I wouldn't report it. Both the criminal justice process and the civil process have been so traumatic.

"I say that as someone who was once a sexual offences officer, supporting victims myself."

She added: "At no point did I feel they [the Met] sincerely acknowledged that I had been through a horrific sexual attack and that the trauma of that had deeply scarred me, or their role in it all.

"They used the fact that I just got on with my life as best I could after the rape against me."

Ms Williams said she wants the Met to do more to protect women and girls from violence and believes the man at the top, commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, must go.

"Mark Rowley will say they are doing everything they can to stop violence against women and girls, I disagree," said Ms Williams.

"The Met need to set up a unit overseen by victims like me who understand what it is like to be raped. For this to happen Rowley needs to go and we need a new commissioner."

Ms Williams didn't report the rape until 2021 and said trauma from the attack 22 years ago has meant she hasn't had any relationships since.

"After the attack, I couldn't face the thought of being with a man or even having somebody in my home," she said.

"That makes for a lonely Christmas and no holidays. It's my choice but the reason behind it wasn't my choice. That's down to the attack. Carrick stole the future that I wanted."

Ms Williams said she didn't report the rape at the time as she believed nothing would happen, and it could have put her in danger.

"I wouldn't have had the back up of my colleagues in dangerous situations and ultimately, I doubt anything would have been done about Carrick," said Ms Williams.

Met 'truly sorry'

A Met Police spokesperson said the force was "truly sorry for the harm and suffering [Carrick] caused his victims" and the "serious flaws" that meant he wasn't caught earlier.

"We recognise the unique and additional impact on DC Linda Williams, whose exposure to Carrick came as a result of her being a Met officer," the spokesperson said.

"Her continued commitment to public service, in spite of the trauma she experienced, is commendable."

The spokesperson said the Met had tried to "reduce further distress and retraumatisation" to Ms Williams and "has aimed to deal with her claims as quickly and compassionately as possible".

"The commissioner has previously met with DC Williams in person as well as spoken to her via email on multiple occasions," the statement added.

It said Sir Mark had "repeatedly acknowledged" her courage and had contacted her to see if she would be willing to meet again to "further discuss these issues".

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

(c) Sky News 2026: Police officer raped by David Carrick says Met chief must resign