People in Nottingham are hoping Nottinghamshire Police will carry out rigorous checks on officers in the wake of the David Carrick case.
Former Met police officer David Carrick pleaded guilty to 49 offences including 24 counts of rape on Monday, January 16.
Police forces up and down the country have been questioned about their vetting and background checks.
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) will ask forces to check current staff who were recruited before tougher vetting of recruits was introduced in 2006.
The Home Office announced on Wednesday, January 18 all police forces will be asked to identify if anyone has ‘slipped through the cracks’.
Former Special officer Keith Reynolds, 50, said: “There certainly needs to be more rigorous follow ups.
“If anything is flagged up it must be dealt with accordingly.”
Student Alex Smith, 18, said: “There’s probably a systematic abuse of power and the culture within the police can be quite toxic as it’s heavily male-dominated.
“They are left to their own devices and it probably happens more than we know.”
There’s probably a systematic abuse of power and the culture within the police can be quite toxic”
Alex Smith, Student
Catherine Bains, 67 said: “It’s difficult because there is a lot of good people in the force and because of what’s happened they are all being tarnished as one.
“I think any governing body should have regular checks, nurses have to re-register so the police should be treated the same.”
“there is a lot of good people in the force and… they are all being tarnished as one.
Catherine Bains, Nottingham local
Carrick, 48, was officially sacked on Tuesday after admitting to the offences that occurred over two decades.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP described the move for tougher checks as the “bare minimum” and called the government’s response “completely underwhelming”.
Jane Leigh, 29, added: “I don’t have much faith in any police force doing it now if someone has already slipped through before.
“I think the whole system needs a revamp otherwise the systematic issues aren’t going to change.”
In November 2022 Nottinghamshire Police responded to a national report that condemned poor police vetting standards which were released by a police watchdog.
The force was inspected by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) was rated as “Good”.
Nottinghamshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Steven Cooper said: “The public can have trust and confidence in the processes and procedures we have in force, to ensure that our officers and staff meet the high standards expected of them.
“The vast majority of our staff are dedicated professionals who serve the public of Nottinghamshire to the highest standards.”
