Scotland Yard chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has apologised to victims of rapes who were pressured by police into withdrawing their allegations so officers could meet performance targets.
However, the Met Commissioner faced attack after he attempted to deflect criticism over the issue by saying the cases — which took place in 2008 and 2009 — were “relatively historic”.
His comments came after the Independent Police Complaints Commission severely criticised the force’s Southwark Sapphire specialist sex crimes unit for adopting an approach of “failing to believe” victims.
Speaking for the first time on the controversy, Sir Bernard said: “First of all we are sorry that happened. This was a terrible outcome in this case. This happened in 2008/9 and it is relatively historic now.
“We have put things in place that we think have improved things.
“Can we guarantee things? Of course we cannot, but I think the IPCC acknowledge that things have improved.”
Commenting to Channel 4 News, he said police today were less interested in detection rates which he said could lead to the “wrong behaviour by police”. He also admitted that the Met’s decision to promote two officers involved in the unit would “cause the public to wonder what our standards are. It is an unfortunate symbol”.
But his remarks that the cases were historic were condemned by the rape crisis charity Women Against Rape.Spokeswoman Lisa Longstaff said: “I think that when arrogant comments like that are being made it is like being raped all over again.
“Every time the police say these problems are in the past it is a perversion of the truth.
“There have been nine IPCC reports about Sapphire and every time they say things have been done but it is the junior officers who are disciplined and senior officers, who are responsible, are let off.”
Twitter users also criticised the Met chief’s comments as “aggressive and complacent” and “arrogant”.
The IPCC report found that detectives from the Southwark sex crime unit had persuaded women victims to say the attacks they endured were “consensual sex”.
In one case, a detective sergeant pressured a woman to drop a rape claim against retired security guard Jean Say, 63, who then went on to murder his two children in their beds with a carving knife.
