The Metropolitan police has been hit by shocking claims that three officers falsified evidence to stop a rape inquiry.
According to an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the victim's original complaint was cast aside as a 'no crime' incident after officers faked part of her statement to give the impression she had retracted her rape claim.
Incredibly, the cover-up was allegedly intended to improve the Met's resolution rate for sex offences by reducing the amount of unsolved cases in its files.
The IPCC claims will increase concerns about the Met's approach to solving sex crimes as well as the effects of a 'target culture' within the police force.
One officer, who took down the statement, has been told he could be charged with perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office.
The other two also face prosecution for misconduct in public office, and a possible charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
The detective constable and two trainee DCs work for the Sapphire sex crimes unit, which has already faced heavy criticism over its handling of a number of high-profile cases, including those of black cab rapist John Worboys and serial sex attacker Kirk Reid.
Today's revelation is likely to lead to calls for a wider investigation into how the Met tackles sex crimes, amid suggestions that officers were placed under excessive pressure to write off cases that were hard to solve as 'no crime' incidents.... read more
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328491/Met-police-face-prosecution-halting-rape-trial-using-fake-evidence.html#ixzz1YEZBRHVt
According to an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the victim's original complaint was cast aside as a 'no crime' incident after officers faked part of her statement to give the impression she had retracted her rape claim.
Incredibly, the cover-up was allegedly intended to improve the Met's resolution rate for sex offences by reducing the amount of unsolved cases in its files.
Cover-up: Independent investigators have claimed three officers faked part of a victim's statement in order to halt a rape inquiry
One officer, who took down the statement, has been told he could be charged with perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office.
The other two also face prosecution for misconduct in public office, and a possible charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
The detective constable and two trainee DCs work for the Sapphire sex crimes unit, which has already faced heavy criticism over its handling of a number of high-profile cases, including those of black cab rapist John Worboys and serial sex attacker Kirk Reid.
Today's revelation is likely to lead to calls for a wider investigation into how the Met tackles sex crimes, amid suggestions that officers were placed under excessive pressure to write off cases that were hard to solve as 'no crime' incidents.... read more
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328491/Met-police-face-prosecution-halting-rape-trial-using-fake-evidence.html#ixzz1YEZBRHVt
