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| Taxi rape case police disciplined | Taxi rape case police disciplined |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Five police officers have been disciplined over an inquiry into sex assault claims against a taxi driver. | Five police officers have been disciplined over an inquiry into sex assault claims against a taxi driver. |
| John Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009 for raping one woman and attacking others in his London black cab. He is thought to have assaulted 100 women. | John Worboys was jailed indefinitely in 2009 for raping one woman and attacking others in his London black cab. He is thought to have assaulted 100 women. |
| A proper inquiry could have prevented some of the attacks, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said. | A proper inquiry could have prevented some of the attacks, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said. |
| Seven of them came after police made Worboys prime suspect, but officers did not initially search his home or cab. | Seven of them came after police made Worboys prime suspect, but officers did not initially search his home or cab. |
| The IPCC said lives were ruined because police failed to take the case seriously. A detective sergeant and inspector had received written warnings and three other officers had been given "formal words of advice". | The IPCC said lives were ruined because police failed to take the case seriously. A detective sergeant and inspector had received written warnings and three other officers had been given "formal words of advice". |
| The Metropolitan Police has admitted that officers let down victims. | The Metropolitan Police has admitted that officers let down victims. |
| Victim: I have no faith in the Met Police | Victim: I have no faith in the Met Police |
| Worboys would pick up women late at night in London's West End and offer them a glass of champagne in his black cab, claiming to be celebrating a lottery or casino win. | Worboys would pick up women late at night in London's West End and offer them a glass of champagne in his black cab, claiming to be celebrating a lottery or casino win. |
| The drink was mixed with sedatives that left the victims unable to defend themselves from assault. | The drink was mixed with sedatives that left the victims unable to defend themselves from assault. |
| The police watchdog investigated two complaints from victims, one from 2003 and another whose 2007 attack was part of the eventual prosecution. | The police watchdog investigated two complaints from victims, one from 2003 and another whose 2007 attack was part of the eventual prosecution. |
| The IPCC said that the Metropolitan Police identified Worboys as the prime suspect in 2007 - but failed to properly investigate. | The IPCC said that the Metropolitan Police identified Worboys as the prime suspect in 2007 - but failed to properly investigate. |
| The officer who interviewed the taxi driver did not know the full allegations. | The officer who interviewed the taxi driver did not know the full allegations. |
| Senior officers did not order a search of Worboys's home or taxi. When officers eventually had a better idea of the case, they did not bring the suspect back in. | Senior officers did not order a search of Worboys's home or taxi. When officers eventually had a better idea of the case, they did not bring the suspect back in. |
| The police report of one attack stated: "The victim cannot remember anything past getting in the cab, it would seem unlikely that a cab driver would have alcohol in his vehicle let alone drug substances." | The police report of one attack stated: "The victim cannot remember anything past getting in the cab, it would seem unlikely that a cab driver would have alcohol in his vehicle let alone drug substances." |
| These victims had a terrible experience with Worboys and that was made worse by the police response Deborah Glass, IPCC Worboys victim 'not taken seriously' | These victims had a terrible experience with Worboys and that was made worse by the police response Deborah Glass, IPCC Worboys victim 'not taken seriously' |
| Worboys is known to have gone on and assaulted seven more women. | Worboys is known to have gone on and assaulted seven more women. |
| In the case of the 2003 victim, an officer failed to contact a witness who might have been able to identify John Worboys as the attacker. | In the case of the 2003 victim, an officer failed to contact a witness who might have been able to identify John Worboys as the attacker. |
| One victim, a 19-year-old student when she was attacked in July 2007, said officers "just laughed" when she reported the assault. | One victim, a 19-year-old student when she was attacked in July 2007, said officers "just laughed" when she reported the assault. |
| "I felt like I was the criminal. I did not feel like I was the victim at all. And I certainly was not treated like one," said the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. | "I felt like I was the criminal. I did not feel like I was the victim at all. And I certainly was not treated like one," said the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons. |
| "It felt like I had to prove my case because they were not willing to listen to me or look into what I was saying." | "It felt like I had to prove my case because they were not willing to listen to me or look into what I was saying." |
| She believes people should have been sacked. | She believes people should have been sacked. |
| IPCC commissioner Deborah Glass said: "It's impossible to say for certain what would have happened if the police had followed up the lines of inquiry [in 2007], but it's highly likely that Worboys would have been arrested at that point and may well not have had the opportunity to commit further crimes. | IPCC commissioner Deborah Glass said: "It's impossible to say for certain what would have happened if the police had followed up the lines of inquiry [in 2007], but it's highly likely that Worboys would have been arrested at that point and may well not have had the opportunity to commit further crimes. |
| "This case highlights real concerns about the overall police response and the culture. There was also a culture that a black cab driver could not possibly have committed these offences. | "This case highlights real concerns about the overall police response and the culture. There was also a culture that a black cab driver could not possibly have committed these offences. |
| "These victims had a terrible experience with Worboys and that was made worse by the police response." | "These victims had a terrible experience with Worboys and that was made worse by the police response." |
| 'Let down' | 'Let down' |
| Ms Glass criticised the Met for not referring the case to the watchdog when the scale of their internal concerns first emerged in early 2008. | Ms Glass criticised the Met for not referring the case to the watchdog when the scale of their internal concerns first emerged in early 2008. |
| Metropolitan Police Commander Simon Foy said: "My colleagues have previously apologised for any failings in service, attention or standard of investigation offered to women targeted by Worboys or by a second serial attacker, Kirk Reid. | |
| "Today I reiterate these apologies unreservedly. The two complainants were also let down by the Met and for this I am also sorry." | "Today I reiterate these apologies unreservedly. The two complainants were also let down by the Met and for this I am also sorry." |
| Reid was arrested four years after becoming a suspect. He was convicted of two rapes and 24 sexual assaults, but police believe he was behind 71 attacks. | |
| Mr Foy said the force had overhauled how officers investigate sexual assault allegations by creating the UK's first central intelligence unit to catch serial offenders. | Mr Foy said the force had overhauled how officers investigate sexual assault allegations by creating the UK's first central intelligence unit to catch serial offenders. |