Like all of my constituents, I was utterly appalled to see the recent news regarding David Carrick, a former Metropolitan Police officer.
Carrick pleaded guilty to shocking and heinous crimes, which included 24 counts of rape, spanning 2003 to 2020. He is awaiting sentencing, and our thoughts are first and foremost with the many women he abused and harmed.
The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman MP, in a statement today, said that it is vital that the Metropolitan Police and other forces double down on their efforts to root out criminal and corrupt officers.
The Home Secretary said Carrick's case would now be considered as part of the Angiolini inquiry, which was set up to look into the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens - a case with many chilling parallels to that of Carrick.
The vast majority of police officers uphold the highest standards of behaviour and professionalism. But there are pockets of culture within the police - particularly, it seems, the Met - where standards have not been met and a poisonous culture has been allowed to develop.
The police must address their failings in this case, restore public confidence, and do everything possible to ensure that women and girls are safe, and feel safe, in their communities and homes.