Metropolitan Police To Compensate Worboys Rape Victims

The High Court has said that two victims of the black cab rapist, John Worboys, have the right to receive compensation from the Metropolitan Police because of the flawed police investigation. The Court ruled that systemic failures by the police meant that Worboys was not stopped sooner, and the verdict could mean that hundreds more women will also be entitled to compensation payments from the Metropolitan Police. The extent and level of damages will now be assessed and compensation will be calculated for the victims.

John Worboys was jailed for life in 2009 for offences committed between 2002 and 2008. He was convicted of two rapes and 12 drug charges. Mr Worboys picked up fares and claimed to have won the lottery, showing a bag of cash as proof of his winnings. He would then offer his victims a glass of champagne, which had been laced with sedatives, and would sexually assault or rape the victims. Many of the women could not recall the full details of what had happened to them. The police requested that any other potential victims of Worboys came forward.

The two victims that won the right to compensation brought claims against Mr Worboys under article three of the Human Rights Act. This means the right not to be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment. The judge ruled in favour of the two victims, also stating that a systemic failure by the police meant that Worboys was not captured and stopped sooner.

It is believed that Worboys attached 100 women during a seven year period, and not only do these findings mean that many of those women will be able to make similar claims against the Metropolitan Police, but it could open up new claims in a number of other cases too.

The Metropolitan Police had questioned whether they have a duty of care for victims, and said in a statement that they did not want to cast doubt on the claims of the victims, but believed it important to question the extent of liability and the role of the police in such cases. A source went on to say that they had contested the claims to determine a precedent in such cases.

CICAApr 2nd, 20140 comments