Detective raped by colleague says Met handling of case ‘like being raped again’

Detective raped by colleague says Met response caused further trauma

Ninoda.com – Detective raped by colleague says the Metropolitan Police’s handling of her civil claim made her feel as though she had been assaulted again. Detective Constable Linda Williams said the process caused profound distress after she was raped by former officer David Carrick in 2004.

Williams, who remains a serving Met officer, said she has experienced post-traumatic stress disorder since the attack. Carrick was jailed for life in 2023 after being convicted of sexual offences against Williams and 11 other women.

She settled a civil claim against the force and received compensation, although the Met did not admit legal liability. Williams has waived her anonymity and called for Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to resign, arguing that promised cultural reform has not gone far enough.

“It was like being raped all over again,” Williams said of the civil case.

Dispute over the effects of trauma

Williams said lawyers representing the Metropolitan Police Commissioner challenged the severity of her PTSD, including because she had been raped on one occasion. She described this as among the most upsetting aspects of the legal process.

The detective raped by colleague says the case had a serious impact on her mental health and left her feeling suicidal. She said the proceedings revived the consequences of an attack she had not reported for many years.

The Met said it had tried to reduce further distress and re-traumatisation while handling Williams’s welfare and claim as quickly and compassionately as possible. It also said her experience was particularly significant because she had met Carrick through her work as an officer.

Why she did not report the rape at the time

Williams has served with the Metropolitan Police for 27 years and worked as a rape investigation officer in the early 2000s. Despite supporting victims professionally, she did not feel able to report her own rape.

“I supported victims through rape but didn’t report myself. I think that says loads.”

She reported Carrick in 2021 after learning he had been charged with raping another woman. Hertfordshire Police investigated her allegation rather than the Met, helping to bring him to justice.

Detective raped by colleague says she would still not take a rape allegation to the Met if she experienced a similar attack today. She said her experience had left her without confidence in how the force handles reports of rape.

Attack during a work attachment

The rape happened while Williams was on a three-month attachment in south London, working with Carrick away from her normal posting. She said he suggested she stay at his home instead of making a long late-night drive before returning to work the following morning.

Williams said Carrick then raped her and continued when she told him to stop.

“It’s what I do. I’m going to carry on.”

She said she feared he would become violent if she resisted physically. Afterwards, she told no one, believing that reporting him could damage her career and leave her isolated within the organisation.

FAQ: reporting rape in England and Wales

Can a rape allegation be reported to a police force other than the local force? Yes. A report can be made to any police force, which can arrange for the allegation to be investigated by the appropriate force.

Can victims seek support without immediately making a police report? Yes. Specialist support services can provide emotional support, practical advice and information about available options without requiring someone to report an offence.

Why is trust in police handling of rape important? Detective raped by colleague says her own decision not to report the attack illustrates how concerns about workplace culture and treatment by police can affect whether victims feel able to come forward.