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Greenwich police chief axed after taxi rape case blunders
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent19.03.09
A POLICE chief whose officers bungled investigations into black cab rapist John Worboys and the killer of teenager Rob Knox has been removed.
Chris Jarratt, 49, has been borough commander of Greenwich for two and a half years.
Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson ordered the move after speaking of his "deep concerns" over failures in the investigations.
Detectives in a specialist sex crimes unit at Plumstead have been criticised for failing to investigate properly a complaint about Worboys, 51, which left him free to attack dozens more women. Police at Plumstead also failed to arrest Karl Bishop, 21, over a knife robbery two months before he stabbed to death Harry Potter actor Rob Knox, 18, in Sidcup.
In both cases the suspects were arrested almost immediately after homicide detectives were called in. Officers at Plumstead were also criticised last year when it emerged that local police did not investigate when the mother of Robert Napper - Rachel Nickell's killer - told officers in 1989 he had told her about a rape.
Three years later Napper killed MsNickell, 23, and then murdered Samantha Bissett, 27, and her four-year-old daughter Jazmine.
Police sources said today there were concerns about the leadership at Greenwich over a number of issues.
However, one of Mr Jarratt's colleagues said: "He believes he is being forced to carry the can for what amount to systemic failures in the Met."
The Commissioner has already stripped Territorial Policing of the responsibility of leading rape and sex crime inquiries.
In future all sex assault cases will be overseen by homicide and serious crime detectives in the Met's Specialist Crime Directorate led by Assistant Commissioner John Yates.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that Chris Jarratt will be leaving Greenwich borough.
"He has undertaken a good job in Greenwich but in common with many roles at this level it is time for him to utilise his skills elsewhere in the Met."
Mr Jarratt will leave his post as soon as a new commander has been chosen.
Reader views (4)
There are some very important points about integrity that are being missed with regard to Greenwich and the HMIC report. Firstly the original report was never published as it was considered to damming and would leave the met vulnerable to civil actions by officers as Greenwich against their superintendents. The chief superintendent peter lowton was promoted and two of the superintendents moved to non operational jobs to finish their service. It took over a year to move the last superintendent and that was only after numerous complaints from officers. So it begs the question, where is the original report, why will the public never be allowed to see it. As for Greenwich now the people that have delivered without support are going, but who will be left.
- C Brown, london
Oh yes here we go again.
- Irene Gizelle, London UK
He will "leave his post";and then what?Take up another post until he can draw his generous pension.Talk about "no reward for failure"!!!
- P Doff, filey yorks
As usual, too late again.
- Robert Phelps, Bussiere Poitevine
