The Metropolitan Police disclosed that a former member of their ranks has been convicted of multiple rapes, including those involving a child,
some of which were perpetrated during his tenure as a serving officer.
In the recent trial concerning Britain's largest police force, 24-year-old Cliff Mitchell was found guilty in a London court on ten counts of rape, three counts of child rape under 13, one count of kidnapping, and breaching a non-molestation order.
The Metropolitan Police has grappled with numerous scandals in recent times, prompting escalating demands for addressing concerns regarding its officers, especially in light of several high-profile cases involving rape, abuse, and murder.
An independent review conducted last year concluded that the institution was rife with racism, misogyny, and homophobia.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy condemned Mitchell's actions as "a brazen abuse of power," labeling the case as "truly shocking" and expressing disgust at Mitchell's behavior.
According to Cundy, Mitchell attempted to manipulate one of his victims by asserting that she would not be believed due to his status as a police officer.
"This is another instance that will undoubtedly impact public confidence in us. We are undertaking unprecedented efforts to cleanse the Met of individuals who tarnish our integrity," Cundy added.
Police reported that in September of last year, Mitchell committed rape at knifepoint, subsequently blindfolding the victim with his garment, binding her with cable ties, and coercing her into his vehicle. Fortunately, she managed to escape and received assistance from a bystander.
Mitchell was suspended upon being charged and was subsequently dismissed from the force in December after an expedited misconduct hearing for violating a prior non-molestation order.
Following his arrest, a prior rape investigation against Mitchell was reopened, resulting in six additional charges related to a second victim spanning from 2014 to 2017. Photo by Cnyborg, Wikimedia commons.