Det Con Linda Williams, a 27-year Met veteran, was raped in 2004 by PC David Carrick while on attachment in south London. Carrick was jailed for life in 2023 for sexual offences against her and 11 other women. Williams reported the rape only after Carrick was charged with another woman's rape. Carrick was brought to justice by Hertfordshire Police, not the Met.
In a civil case lasting four years, Williams sought damages from the Met for failing to protect her from Carrick. She said the process left her feeling suicidal. The 'worst thing', she said, was when the Met's legal team questioned the severity of her PTSD diagnosis, arguing that the 'abuse itself was isolated to a single episode' and that for 15 years after the rape her psychological harm was 'not such as to significantly impact her on a day-to-day basis'. Williams was horrified. 'I don't know how many times you have to be raped to have severe PTSD,' she said.
The Met has now paid compensation without admitting liability. In a statement, the force said it 'tried to reduce further distress and re-traumatisation to DC Williams' welfare and has aimed to deal with her claims as quickly and compassionately as possible'. It recognised 'the unique and additional impact on DC Linda Williams, whose exposure to Carrick came as a result of her being a Met officer' and called her continued commitment to public service 'commendable'.
Williams says she still does not trust the Met to handle rape cases. If attacked again, she would not report it to her own force. She believes the culture of misogyny identified in Baroness Casey's 2023 report has not changed enough. She said police had not moved on enough to give victims of domestic violence and sexual offences the support they need.
After Carrick's conviction, Sir Mark publicly apologised to the 12 victims. Williams emailed him saying that as a serving officer she thought he would come forward. He met her and said he was sorry. But now she wants him to resign, arguing he has failed to reform the Met. Her PTSD, she said, is '90% down to the Met Police, 10% to Carrick'.