TWO Wiltshire Police officers have been issued 'final warnings' for failing to properly investigate reports about a serial rapist.

Last year, ex-Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick was convicted of crimes committed against 12 women over the course of 17 years, making him one of the UK’s worst sex offenders.

The firearms officer, entrusted to guard parliament and diplomatic sites, was jailed for more than 30 years after pleading guilty to 49 charges, including rapes committed between 2003 and 2020.

Several complaints had been made against him during his time in the Met and the Independent Office for Police Conduct has been looking into claims made about his behaviour in 2002, 2016, 2019, and 2021.

David Carrick was jailed in 2023.David Carrick was jailed in 2023. (Image: Hertfordshire Police/PA)

An independent Legally Qualified Chair (LQC) considered allegations against Inspector David Tippetts and PC Emma Fisher who are both serving Wiltshire Police officers.

The misconduct allegations centred on a 2016 report from a member of the public regarding allegations of abuse involving Carrick.

The LQC upheld 11 allegations that PC Fisher failed to investigate the allegation adequately or at all, failed to carry out her duties and obligations to the best of her ability, did not ensure that an accurate record of her actions were kept and she was not diligent in the performance of her duties.

One allegation was withdrawn and three were not proven.

The LQC also upheld five allegations concerning Insp Tippetts.

He had not verified that PC Fisher had undertaken any or all of the matters under investigation, he didn't tell her to investigate and he had not noted PC Fisher's lack of investigation or recommend she carried out further actions.

Taken cumulatively, the panel determined that the breaches reached the threshold of misconduct.

As a result of this finding, both officers were given final written warnings.

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Deputy Chief Constable Craig Dibdin said: “This is a clear case of officers failing, in the most basic sense, to properly investigate allegations made to them.

“This failure in service was compounded by a lack of proper oversight and scrutiny by a supervisor.

“Our communities must have the trust and confidence in us to listen to them, investigate any allegation made to us without fear or favour and keep them fully updated as to the actions we are undertaking."

Deputy chief constable Dibdin apologised to the person whose report Wiltshire Police did not initially investigate.

“I also want to reiterate our plea to our communities – whenever you have concerns regarding a member of Wiltshire Police – please report these to us. We will take robust action against anyone whose conduct falls short of our expectations," he added.