Adam Provan: Met warned convicted rapist was unfit to be officer – months after he started

The Metropolitan Police are investigating the full story of a former officer sentenced to 16 years in prison after raping a fellow officer and a teenage girl.

adam provan's crimes, The acts he committed while serving as a police officer were described by Scotland Yard as “entirely regrettable”.

Police are now looking into his career to see if this “dangerous offender” could have been stopped sooner or prevented from going to the police.

Deputy Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said it was already clear “there were key moments when we let women down” – as the allegations reported by his colleague were not taken seriously.

It has been noted that a number of complaints have been filed against him throughout his career for alleged rudeness and unprofessional conduct, but these have not been substantiated.

Another issue concerns the 751 female names found on Provan's phone that contained derogatory comments – some suggesting sexual activity with them.

Only 50 of them had phone numbers and work is ongoing to identify as many women as possible.

The Met has now released a detailed timeline of Provan's career – it sheds light on other incidents that are currently under review.

2003

Provan began his police training in February 2003 after passing his screening.

Three months later, in May, a 15-year-old boy referred to as “Girl 1” made allegations of sexual touching against him.

In August he joined a response team at Forest Gate and was interviewed under caution in September.

After consultation with the Crown Prosecutor's Office, no further action was taken.

A week after he was questioned by police, two citizens raised concerns about his suitability to be a police officer, alleging that he displayed excessively violent and sexualized behavior in his youth.

Provan was referred to occupational health professionals.

2005

In January 2005, “Ms. 1” – an on-duty police officer who was one of Provan's victims – spoke to her manager and claimed he had molested her.

Although a criminal report was prepared, she was advised against pursuing the matter in the interest of her own career.

Provan was warned of his behavior and told not to contact her directly.

Also that month he received a written warning for leaving a station office unoccupied.

In May of the same year he transferred to an operational team in Barking and Dagenham.

A month later – in June – it was alleged that the officer had contacted a 16-year-old girl in excess of what was required of her as a witness to a crime.

There appeared to be no involvement with professional standards at the time, and this is currently under review by the Met.

In October, Provan's phone number was linked to harassment calls received by an officer on duty. According to the Met, the matter was resolved informally.

2009

In May 2009, Provan emailed “Mrs. 1” asking to meet with her. A manager told her to ignore the news and consider getting a restraining order.

“Mrs. 1” – who is still employed by the Met – says she was contacted by Provan on a number of occasions between 2005 and 2009. This is currently under review.

2010

At the age of 31, Adam Provan took Lauren Taylor – one of his victims – out on a date to the movies. He stated that he was a 22-year-old police officer.

He drove the 16-year-old to a country park and raped her in the woods and at a children's playground, even though she repeatedly said no.

Lauren, who is waiving her right to anonymity, has not made a police report for several years.

2013

In July 2013, Provan met a 17-year-old dubbed “Girl 2” after he was accused of a crime.

The teenager expressed a desire to go to the police and Provan took her for a ride in a marked car.

She later became a duty officer at the Met and subsequently had a relationship with him. He was then 34 years old.

2014

In January 2014, a woman reported that a phone number had been slipped through her mailbox.

Two years later, when Provan was arrested, intelligence checks revealed it was his number.

The Met has confirmed that this incident is also under investigation.

2015

Provan passed another verification process.

The Metropolitan Police say this is under close scrutiny as the checks carried out in 2003 and 2015 were not as stringent as they are today.

2016

In June 2016, Provan was arrested for raping Ms Taylor.

He was given restricted duties such that he was not allowed to have face-to-face contact with the public.

2017

In April 2017, “Girl 2” claimed she had been raped multiple times during her relationship with Provan since 2014. He was suspended from the Metropolitan Police.

In July, he was charged with rape offenses against Ms. Taylor, as well as “Girl 1” and “Girl 2.” The processes were divided.

Provan was acquitted of sexual touching by “Girl 1”, while “Girl 2” withdrew from the case a year later because she was dissatisfied with the support she was given. She then retired from the Metropolitan Police.

Ms. Taylor's first trial was a vacant grand jury.

2018

In November 2018, a retrial was held on the allegations made by Ms. Taylor. Provan was found guilty of rape and sentenced to nine years in prison.

2019

Provan was fired from the Met and placed on the College of Policing's banned list in March 2019.

This month, “Woman 1” made formal allegations of rape.

She did not dare to do this earlier because the allegations of abuse and harassment made against her superiors in 2005 were not taken seriously.

2022

Provan was released from prison in February 2022 following an appeal.

2023

In February 2023, “Woman 2” claimed Provan sexually abused her when she was 17 years old.

In this case, an indictment decision is currently available from the Crown Public Prosecutor's Office.

In May, after a third trial, Provan was convicted of the multiple rapes of Ms Taylor and “Ms 1” – one of his colleagues at the Met.

In August he was sentenced to 16 years in prison – with a further eight years for an extended driver's license.