Serial rapist police officer passed vetting despite warnings, BBC reveals

A former police officer, Alan Greer, who was later revealed to be a serial rapist, managed to secure a position with Strathclyde Police in 2009 despite two previous incidents of criminal behavior against women, BBC Investigation reveals. In 2002 and 2005, Greer was investigated for making inappropriate phone calls to women, with one case culminating in a formal police caution.

Despite these records, the vetting staff failed to prevent his entry into the force. Greer served for 17 years before taking his own life in May, just days after a police raid on his home as part of an investigation into offenses dating back to 2012. During his tenure, he was involved in a series of attempted murders, serious sexual assaults, and even assaulted vulnerable women, including taking inappropriate photographs of female colleagues.

Police Scotland has identified 15 of Greer's victims, but fears the actual number could be much higher. Assistant Chief Constable Lynn Ratcliff, when questioned about missed opportunities, stated that there were no signs of any overlooked red flags. The BBC's investigation revealed that Strathclyde Police's vetting unit in 2009 was indeed aware of Greer's 2005 police caution, yet he was still accepted into the force.

A report from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, HMICS, led by Craig Naylor, shared that Greer's past should have raised significant concerns during the vetting process, and he should have been barred from joining the police. The police vetting landscape has since changed, with annual integrity testing and routine re-vetting now in place.