Four Metropolitan Police officers and a member of police staff will face disciplinary proceedings for their handling of allegations against the serial rapist police officer David Carrick, the police watchdog has said.

Carrick, of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was jailed for at least 30 years in February 2023 after he admitted dozens of rapes and sexual offences against 12 women.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a detective sergeant, three officers and a police staff member allegedly breached “police standards of professional behaviour”.

Four reports of serious offending were made against Carrick by former partners between 2002 and 2021, while he served as a Met officer, the IOPC added.

IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said it had identified “several missed opportunities” where officers had failed to pursue misconduct investigations against Carrick.

“Had these matters been progressed appropriately, Carrick may have potentially faced gross misconduct proceedings and been dismissed from the force well before he was eventually arrested,” she added.

The IOPC announced in July 2023 it was carrying out four independent investigations into what actions were taken by the Met, after it emerged four reports of serious offending had been made against Carrick by former partners.

They included two reports of assault and harassment, made in 2002 and 2016, a report of assault made in 2019 and a report of rape and sexual assault in 2019.

The IOPC said in each case, either no further action was taken against Carrick or the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) was not informed.

“We found that a detective sergeant should face a gross misconduct hearing for potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour relating to their alleged failure to supervise adequately that Carrick conduct investigation,” the IOPC said.

“We also found that a detective constable and a police staff member should face misconduct meetings.”

The IOPC said those facing disciplinary proceedings all worked in the Met’s DPS at the time.

The Met said it was “truly sorry” for the harm Carrick had caused his victims, and that he should “never have been a police officer”.

“We have acknowledged that serious flaws in our approach meant we did not spot his pattern of abusive behaviour and as a result, we missed opportunities to pursue him through the misconduct process. We deeply regret this,” a spokesperson said.

“In addition to the IOPC investigation, we are also continuing to support the work of the independent inquiry chaired by Lady Elish Angiolini which is examining the extent to which Carrick’s conduct and crimes were known and investigated at the time.”

The IOPC said it was preparing “learning recommendations” for all police forces in England and Wales around vetting and the response to off-duty conduct.

It also said it was adding a mandatory “police perpetrated” flag to crime recording systems.

Earlier this year, London’s mayor confirmed Carrick had been stripped of his full state-funded pension.

Carrick had joined the Met in 2001 before becoming an armed officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit in 2009.

He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to a total of 49 offences, including 24 counts of rape, between 2003 and 2020.

The Met, and City of London Police, where one of the officers is now based, will arrange disciplinary proceedings.

Luxury carmaker Aston Martin’s share price sank more than 20% after it said profits will be lower than expected this year.

The company, famed for its links to fictional superspy James Bond, has been hit by supply chain issues and falling sales in China.

The share price of Stellantis, the owner of brands such as Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat and Jeep, also plummeted on Monday after a profit warning.

Carmakers across Europe have been suffering lately, with disappointing sales and increased competition from abroad taking a heavy toll on earnings.

Aston Martin is a prestige brand which makes upmarket cars in relatively small quantities.

Last year, it sold 6,620 vehicles, with about a fifth of those going to the Asia-Pacific region.

However, the company says it has been hit by a fall in demand in China, where a slowing economy has affected sales of luxury cars.

It has also been affected by problems at a number of suppliers, which have affected its ability to build a number of new models.

As a result, Aston says it will make about 1000 cars fewer than originally planned this year.

Sales, which had originally been forecast to rise, are now expected to be lower than in 2023, and earnings will fall short of current market expectations.

Adrian Hallmark, who became Aston Martin’s chief executive a few weeks ago, said it had become clear that “decisive action” was needed to adjust output.

But he added that he was “even more convinced than before” about the brand’s potential for growth.

Meanwhile, Stellantis has become the latest large-scale carmaker to revise its financial forecasts, thanks to a deterioration in the industry outlook.

The company has been struggling with weak demand in the US, a key market, where it has been forced to offer discounts in order to shift unsold stock.

It has also been facing increased competition from Chinese brands, which have been expanding aggressively abroad.

As a result, it sais it expects its profit margins to be significantly lower than previously thought this year.

The announcement sent its shares tumbling. By lunchtime on Monday, the price was down more than 14%.

The problems at Stellantis and Aston Martin reflect a wider malaise in the European car industry.

On Friday, Volkswagen issued its second profit warning in three months, while it has also suggested it might have to close plants in Germany for the first time in its history.

Its German rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW have also downgraded their profit forecasts in recent weeks.

Among the common issues are falling sales in China – until recently a highly lucrative market for expensive and profitable high-end models – coupled with growing competition from Chinese brands in other markets.

Sales of electric cars, which manufacturers have invested huge sums in developing, have been faltering badly in Europe.

According to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, sales of battery-powered cars were down nearly 44% in August compared to the same period a year ago, while their share of the market dropped to 14.4%, compared to 21% in 2023.

The decline has followed the removal or reduction of incentives for electric car buyers in a number of European markets, including France and Germany.

On Friday, EU nations are due to vote on plans to impose steep tariffs on imports of electric vehicles from China.

The measures are designed to protect local producers from unfair competition. The European Commission claims Chinese manufacturers benefit from illegal subsidies from the Chinese government – and believes tariffs will create a level playing field.

But the plan is controversial, and has received a mixed reception from manufacturers.