Detective charged with misconduct in handling rape and sexual assault cases

The Met’s Sapphire unit is a team of specialist officers who investigate only rape and serious sexual assault cases (Getty Images)

A detective has been charged with misconduct in public office over a string of allegations relating to his handling of rape and sexual assault investigations.

Carl Ryan is accused of signing witness statements himself and incorrectly informing a suspect of a decision to prosecute.

It is also alleged that the 34-year-old failed to “properly advance” the forensic side of investigations on a number of occasions between 2010 and 2012 when he was working in the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire unit, which deals with rape and sexual assault cases.

Prosecutors authorised the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to charge Mr Ryan after the watchdog carried out an investigation. He has been charged with six counts of misconduct in public office.

Sally Walsh, a senior lawyer in the Crown Prosecution Service special crime division, said: “It is alleged that between 2010 and 2012, Mr Ryan, who at the time was an officer in the Sapphire unit dealing with rape and sexual assault cases, failed to properly advance the forensic side of investigations on a number of occasions.

“It is also alleged that Mr Ryan signed the statements of witnesses himself and incorrectly informed a suspect of a decision to prosecute when no such decision had been made.

“The decision to prosecute [Mr Ryan] was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown prosecutors. We have determined that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.”

The IPCC said the charges related to a period when Mr Ryan served as a detective constable on the Met’s Sapphire command in Islington, north London, and was “leading a number of investigations into allegations of rape and serious sexual offences”.

A statement added: “It follows an independent investigation by the IPCC which included examining concerns about how he had conducted crime investigations and allegations that he had falsified entries on the crime report system in relation to the submission of exhibits and advice from the CPS.”

Mr Ryan will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 July.

The Met’s Sapphire unit is a team of specialist officers who investigate only rape and serious sexual assault cases. It was established both to improve conviction rates and to ensure that rape victims received necessary care and support. It has about 450 staff.