Former MPS officer jailed for multiple rapes of teenage girl and female colleague

Adam Provan, 44, was unanimously convicted by a jury in June of six counts of rape of a woman between 2003 and 2005, and two counts of rape of a teenage girl in 2010.

The offences were all committed while he was a serving officer at Newham and Barking and Dagenham.

Provan, of Newmarket, Suffolk, was dismissed from the MPS in March 2019. He was sentenced on Tuesday (August 22) at Wood Green Crown Court to 16 years in prison, extended on licence to 24 in recognition of the danger he poses.

The court heard Provan had the first names of 751 women on his mobile phone, with derogatory comments alongside, some suggesting sexual activity with them. Only 50 had phone numbers associated with them.

The MPS said detectives are working to identify as many women as possible and whether there may be further victims. It is encouraging anyone with information to come forward.

“We are also reviewing Provan’s full history in the Met, and before he joined, to identify any concerns and whether we could have taken action against him sooner,” the force said.

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said: “I am sure the public will be as shocked and revolted at Provan’s offences as we are here in the Met. He abused his position as a police officer to win the trust of both these women. His actions are utterly deplorable.

“Both women have been enormously strong and courageous in giving evidence to the court – incredibly three times for one of the women – and ensuring Provan is now behind bars. I am so sorry for the pain and suffering he has caused them.

“The court heard that Provan had many women’s names on his phone–- detectives are working through this list to understand how they may be linked to Provan and whether there are more offences we are unaware of. We are keen to hear from anyone who can help with any information, no matter how small. Provan is a dangerous offender and we are pursuing all lines of inquiry.

“We are examining Provan’s criminal and conduct history in the Met so we can fully understand whether we could have acted sooner to bring him before the courts, or have stopped him joining the police.

“This work is ongoing but we can already see there were key moments where we let women down and did not do all we could to support them.

“We have told the Independent Office for Police Conduct we are carrying out a review and advised them that we will make appropriate referrals.”

Ms Rolfe added: “We heard in evidence that when one victim, a serving Met officer, reported allegations against Provan in 2005 these were not taken seriously. She therefore did not have the confidence to report she had been raped by him.

“We are sincerely sorry this was her experience and that she was let down by a system she trusted and was serving.

“The Met is transforming and I hope I can say with confidence her concerns would not be dismissed today.

“While we do not underestimate the impact of cases like this on the trust and confidence of women and girls that we are working so hard to earn, we would encourage anyone in a similar situation to report allegations.

“In the last year we have grown our professional standards teams to ensure we are robust in investigating matters at the earliest opportunity to rid the Met of those who very clearly should not be a part of policing.”

Provan had previously been convicted in November 2018 of the 2010 rapes and was jailed for nine years, being dismissed shortly afterwards.

He appealed his convictions, which were quashed in February 2022. A retrial began at Wood Green Crown Court for these matters on May 2, plus six new counts of rape, and concluded with guilty verdicts on Monday June 19.

The 2010 matters involved Provan and a 16-year-old girl, whom he had met through a friend of the victim. Provan lied and told her he was 22 and used a different surname. The girl was Lauren Taylor, now aged 29 and a mother-of-three. She has waived her anonymity and can be named.

On their first date in late August 2010, Provan took Ms Taylor to some woods where he raped her. He then took her to Central Park in Harold Hill, and orally raped her.

She told a relative she had been raped, and it was subsequently reported to police in May 2016.

The MPS said officers began an investigation and Provan was arrested in June 2016. Following further inquiries, he was charged in September 2017.

The force said offences against the second victim, also known to Provan and a MPS police officer, came to light during the police investigation.

The court heard his behaviour towards the woman was violent, abusive and controlling. He raped her six times.

Specialist crime detectives worked with prosecutors to build a strong case against Provan and he was charged in August 2022 with six counts of rape. The two matters were later joined at court.

Anthony Metzer, KC, leading counsel for the Crown, said: “Adam Provan has shown that he was a significant danger to women whilst serving as a Metropolitan Police officer. He exploited the opportunities he had to access these vulnerable young women and perpetrate horrific rapes upon them, seemingly without fear of repercussions.

“The way Provan chose to defend himself against these allegations shows that he has no insight into these serious offences, and no remorse.

“This case further illustrates the need for vigilance in recruitment, screening and safeguarding processes within our police forces.

“I would like to add how impressive the present police team have been, who have brought Provan finally to justice.”

Provan began his police training in February 2003, joining a response team at Forest Gate in August 2003. He moved to a response team at Barking and Dagenham in May 2005.

Provan was vetted in 2003 upon joining the MPS and again in February 2015.

“On both occasions his vetting was successful but we know the vetting requirements (the types of checks undertaken) were not as robust for either of these clearances as they are now,” the force said

“We are reviewing Provan’s vetting history against current processes.

“It is now the case that if an officer or staff member is arrested or is being investigated for a serious offence, consideration is given to a full review of that individual’s circumstances including the possibility that re-vetting would be required.

“This is a change from the approach that was in place in 2016 when such an arrest did not always result in consideration of a vetting review.”

The MPS added that at various points in his career, Provan had a small number of complaints made against him for alleged incivility and unprofessional behaviour.

“None of these were relevant to the above matters and none were substantiated,” the force said. “In January 2005 Provan received a written warning for leaving the station office unmanned.”

The MPS said professional standards officers are carrying out a full review of Provan’s history in the force to identify any missed opportunities and any potential conduct matters that can be taken forward, as well as any learning for the organisation. Its understanding so far is :

2003

An allegation of sexual touching was made against Provan on May 27, 2003 by a 15-year-old girl (Girl 1). Provan was interviewed under caution on September 19, 2003. No further action was taken, following liaison with the Crown Prosecutiom Service (CPS).

On September 26, concerns were raised by two members of the public about Provan’s suitability to be a police officer, referencing his overly violent and sexualised behaviour whilst growing up. Provan was referred to occupational health professionals.

2005

On January 12, 2005, a MPS officer (Woman 1, a victim in the matters Provan has been sentenced for) spoke to her line manager to allege harassment by Provan. A crime report was created. Woman 1 says she was talked out of pursing the allegation for the sake of her own career. Provan was warned about his behaviour and told not to contact her directly. Woman 1 says she also reported assault and insurance fraud. The MPS will be speaking to her as part of its review to understand this better.

On June 28, an allegation was made that Provan had contacted a 16-year-old girl beyond what was required of her as a witness to a crime. There appears to be no professional standards involvement at the time and this matter forms part of the MPS review.

On October 1, Provan’s phone number was attributed to nuisance calls being received by a serving female MPS officer. This was dealt with informally.

2009

On May 8, 2009, Woman 1 received an email from Provan asking to meet her. She reported to a manager who told her to ignore the email and consider an injunction. Woman 1 says there were other occasions when Provan made contact with her between 2005 and 2009, again this will form part of the MPS review.

2013

On July 5, 2013, Provan met a 17-year-old girl (Girl 2) via an allegation of crime. The girl expressed a desire to join the police and Provan took her on a drive around in a marked car. She went on to become a serving officer in the MPS and subsequently had a relationship with Provan.

2014

On January 1, 2014, in another force area, a woman reported a telephone number was pushed through her letterbox. Intelligence checks when Provan was arrested in 2016 showed this number to be his. This forms part of the MPSreview.

2016

On June 1, 2016, Provan was arrested for the rape of Lauren Taylor. He was placed on restricted duties to have no face-to-face contact with the public.

2017

On April 5, 2017, Girl 2 alleged she was raped a number of times between 2014 and 2017 during her relationship with Provan.

On April 18, Provan was suspended until his dismissal.

On July 27, Provan was charged with rape offences against Lauren Taylor, Girl 1 (this matter having been reopened) and Girl 2. Girl 2 withdrew from proceedings in 2018 as she was unhappy with the support she was being given and subsequently resigned from the MPS.

The trials were split and Provan acquitted of the sexual touching of Girl 1. The first trial in relation to Lauren Taylor was a hung jury.

2018

At a retrial on November 29, 2018, Provan was found guilty of raping Lauren Taylor and jailed for nine years

2019

In March 2019, Provan was dismissed from the MPS and added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing.

Woman 1 made formal allegations of rape on March 27. She did not have the confidence to do this sooner because when she reported Provan’s abuse and harassment in 2005 to managers, the allegations were not taken seriously and she was not supported.

2022

Provan was released from prison on appeal in February 2022.

2023

On February 12, 2023, a woman (Woman 2) made an allegation that Provan sexually assaulted her when she was 17. The case is currently with the CPS for a charging decision.

In May, following a third trial, Provan was convicted of raping Lauren Taylor and Woman 1 and remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.