Concerns about him were raised before he even finished police training. It would take 16 more years, and eight counts of rape, before he was finally convicted.
The Convictions
Adam Provan, 44, a former Metropolitan Police officer, was sentenced to 16 years in prison, extended to 24 years on licence, after being convicted of eight counts of rape. His victims included a fellow Met officer, raped repeatedly between 2003 and 2005, and Lauren Taylor, who was 16 when Provan raped her twice in 2010 while lying about his age and profession. Taylor, now 29, has waived her right to anonymity and has spoken publicly to encourage other victims to come forward.
Early Warning Signs
Provan began police training in February 2003. Three months later, a 15-year-old alleged he had sexually touched her; no further action was taken following review by the Crown Prosecution Service. That same year, two members of the public separately raised concerns about his suitability to be an officer, citing violent and sexualized behavior. He was referred to occupational health but remained on the force.
A Pattern Over Years
In 2005, a fellow female officer reported being harassed by Provan but was discouraged from pursuing the complaint further for the sake of her own career; he was informally warned and told not to contact her, but continued reaching out to her between 2005 and 2009. In 2010, at age 31, Provan invited 16-year-old Lauren Taylor on a date, falsely claiming to be a 22-year-old officer, and raped her in a wooded area and a children's playground. She did not report the assault to police for several years.
The Investigation Widens
Provan was arrested in 2016 for Taylor's rape and placed on restricted duty. In 2017, a 17-year-old separately alleged he had raped her multiple times, though she later withdrew from the proceedings, citing inadequate support, and resigned from the Met. Provan was first convicted of Taylor's rape in 2018 and sentenced to nine years, but that conviction was later quashed on appeal, and he was released in 2022.
Final Convictions
In May 2023, following a third trial, Provan was convicted of raping both Taylor and his former colleague on multiple occasions and was sentenced to 16 years, with an additional eight years on extended licence.
An Ongoing Review
The Metropolitan Police is reviewing Provan's full career history to determine whether earlier intervention could have prevented further harm, including examining roughly 751 female names found on his phone, some accompanied by comments suggesting sexual activity. Around 50 of those names had associated phone numbers, and efforts are underway to identify the women involved. A former Met chief superintendent said the review needs to examine whether Provan abused his position during any calls he responded to as an officer.
FAQ
How long did Adam Provan serve as a police officer while committing these crimes?
More than a decade, from his 2003 training through his dismissal from the Met in 2019, despite multiple red flags raised during that period.
Why was his first conviction overturned?
He successfully appealed his original 2018 conviction and was released from prison in 2022, before being convicted again at a third trial in 2023.
Is the Metropolitan Police investigating further?
Yes. They are reviewing his full career history and attempting to identify additional potential victims, including from a list of names found on his phone.