Five police detectives arrested in 'worst scandal' since Wayne Couzens case
The alleged plot to suppress a complaint of sexual assault by a policewoman against a senior officer is said to be the 'worst scandal' since the Wayne Couzens case
Five Metropolitan Police detectives have been arrested over an alleged conspiracy to quash a sexual assault complaint made by a policewoman against a senior officer.
The arrests followed dramatic raids last week at the homes of the suspects and their workplaces.
Among those arrested is a detective inspector from the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards. This comes following calls for Scottish rape survivors' rights to be improved.
The group of arrested officers also includes a detective chief inspector, another detective inspector and a detective sergeant, according to The Sun. It is claimed that the male officers interfered with a sexual assault complaint made by the female officer against a governor at a CID party last Christmas.
The allegations of a cover-up emerged in June, and searches were conducted at 11 addresses last Tuesday.
'Worst since Wayne Couzens.'
The detectives, all based in North West London, were arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office and corrupt or improper exercise of police powers, reports the Express.
Computer equipment and mobile phones were seized during the coordinated operations carried out by officers from the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS).
All the officers have been released on bail pending further investigations. It is understood that the DPS officer who was arrested works in a local professional standards unit and has no connection with the officers from the command who are investigating him and the four others.
The DPS investigation is being overseen by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
In a related case, a detective inspector has been charged with perverting the course of justice by erasing his mobile phone data.
One insider described the alleged plot to thwart a sexual assault complaint as the "worst scandal to hit the Met's reputation since Wayne Couzens."
Bad apples in the force
This comes as the Met continues its purge of bad apples within its ranks, ordered by Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley following a landmark report by Baroness Casey of Blackstock on the Met's culture and standards.
The 2023 report by the peer labelled the Met institutionally racist, homophobic and misogynistic.
It highlighted a prevalent "boys' club" culture within Britain's largest police force and accused the Met of failing to protect the public from officers who abuse women.
Baroness Casey's scathing review of the Met was commissioned after the March 2021 kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by Met firearms officer Couzens, who had a history of indecent exposure offences.
The report triggered the Met's largest purge in 50 years, with over 1,000 officers being suspended or placed on restricted duties.
Cover-up allegations
An insider stated: "The cover-up allegations go to the heart of the Casey report and what the Met has been trying to address over the past two-and-half years.
"A woman lodged a complaint against a senior officer that he had sexually assaulted her at a Christmas party.
"It is claimed that a group of detectives, including one working on a local professional standards unit, then suppressed that investigation.
"It is the worst scandal to hit the Met's reputation since Wayne Couzens."
An IOPC spokesperson said: "We can confirm that five Met officers were arrested on Tuesday (19 August), as part of an IOPC-directed investigation.
"The investigation relates to the handling of internal allegations of sexual assault against an officer and involves four officers from the North-West Borough Command Unit and one officer from the Directorate of Professional Standards.
"Enquiries are being carried out by the Met's Anti-Corruption Command under our direction and control.
"A total of 11 search warrants took place on 19 August involving both residential addresses and police stations.
"The officers were advised that they are under investigation for potential offences which include perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office and corrupt or improper exercise of police powers.
"They are also being investigated for potential gross misconduct.
"We began our directed investigation in June following a conduct referral from the Met.
"At the end of the investigation, we will decide whether to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service for charging decisions and decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings."
The IOPC spokesperson stated: "On 22 August we were advised by the Met that it had charged an officer with perverting the course of justice, who appeared in court that day, in a matter that is linked to - but not currently part of - this investigation.
"Given proceedings are active it wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment further on this matter."
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who oversees policing in north west London, revealed: "Five Metropolitan Police officers, four attached to the North West Borough Command Unit and one from the Directorate of Professional Standards were arrested on Tuesday, 19 August.
"They were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including perverting the course of justice, misconduct in public office and corrupt or improper exercise of police powers.
"This relates to the handling of an internal investigation into allegations of sexual assault against an officer.
"The investigation is being carried out by the Met's Anti-Corruption Command, under the direction of the IOPC, after a referral was made by the Met in June."