Police watchdog investigating possibility that force Repeatedly Failed to take appropriate actionThe Police watchdog has launched multiple investigations over concerns that the Metropolitan police repeatedly failed to take appropriate action when serious criminal allegations were made against the serial rapist David Carrick while he was an officer.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said that if a 2002 allegation of harassment made by a former partner of Carrick’s had been investigated, he could potentially have been sacked before beginning the series of attacks for which he was jailed.A 2016 report of harassment and stalking made by a former partner, which was investigated by Hampshire constabulary.A 2019 report of a woman being attacked and dragged out of Carrick’s house by him, which was investigated by Hertfordshire constabulary.A February 2021 report of a woman being raped by Carrick, which was initially recorded by Sussex police. This news item is brought to you by The Guardian World News.