Justice System 'Close to Exploding,' Warns Officer

Tim Grattan-Kane, the former lead investigator in the John Worboys case, has issued a stark warning that similar crimes may still be happening. He believes the current criminal justice system is "close to exploding," pointing to significant strain.

Grattan-Kane highlighted issues such as young officers facing frustration with the system. He noted that the Crown Prosecution Service is underfunded, leading to lengthy delays in decision-making. Furthermore, financial cuts have resulted in a lack of support workers, and numerous court closures between 2010 and 2019 have made it difficult to bring cases to trial.

Speaking ahead of an ITV drama about the Worboys case, Grattan-Kane expressed concern over men administering drugs to facilitate sexual assault. He cited recent cases in France and the UK as examples. He also observed that drink spiking appears to be more prevalent, potentially due to increased awareness or a growing number of men with negative attitudes towards women.

The Worboys case, which involved numerous women reporting drugged champagne and subsequent assaults by a London taxi driver, was solved in 2008. Grattan-Kane's team successfully identified links by re-examining evidence and adopting a victim-centric approach, famously asking victims to come forward and assuring them, "you will be trusted, you will be listened to, you will be believed."

He emphasized that while police responses have improved and become more centered on survivors, continuous monitoring is crucial. Grattan-Kane also stressed the importance of police maintaining an open mind, even considering individuals in positions of trust, as exemplified by the Sarah Everard case where the perpetrator used his police role for trust. He cautioned against performance measurement based solely on numbers, which can compromise quality and create systemic problems.