Rape victim pressured into dropping allegation against Jean Say who went on to murder his children Actions of Met Police sex crime unit described as 'wholly inappropriate' Officers were encouraged to take retraction statements from rape victims IPCC said handling of a rape case in 2008 was 'deeply disturbing' In 2011 he killed his own children, eight and 10, by slitting their throats 19 London officers have been disciplined - three who have been sacked. Police failed to investigate a rape by Jean Say who went on to kill his own children by cutting their throats as they lay in bed A police unit that investigates sex crimes pressurised a woman to drop a rape claim against a man who went on to murder his two children, a watchdog said today. Jean Say killed his daughter Regina, eight, and son Rolls, 10, in 2011 when they went to stay with him for a weekend in Southwark, South London. The earlier rape allegation against him was dismissed by a detective sergeant based in the Sapphire unit at Southwark, south London, who said the circumstances did not constitute rape because the woman 'consented'. He then went on to slit his children's throats as they slept and was jailed for 30 years after admitting to the killings ahead of a trial. Today a report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission said: 'There is no doubt from the evidence that the woman made an allegation of rape at Walworth police station which should have been believed and thoroughly investigated.' The IPCC also said that the police's handling of the case had been 'wholly inappropriate' after finding the unit failed to believe victims in the first instance. The report went on: 'The pressure to meet targets as a measure of success, rather than focussing on the outcome for the victim, resulted in the police losing sight of what policing is about - protecting the public and deterring and detecting crime.' The IPCC blamed the Sapphire unit for adopting its own procedures that encouraged officers to take retraction statements from victims in cases where it was thought they might later withdraw or not reach the standard of prosecution. By doing this, their 'sanction-detection' rates improved and the performance statistics for the unit appeared better than they were. The report also found that victims were first questioned by a detective constable before being interviewed by a specialist officer. When asked if any officers had been disciplined or might be disciplined in the future a Met spokesman said: 'It's still under consideration as we were waiting for the outcome of today's report.' Rolls Say, 10, (left) and Regina Say, 8, (right) were murdered by their father when they went to stay with him This meant they were questioned repeatedly, going against standard practice that a victim should be believed in the first instance until evidence showed otherwise. Deborah Glass, deputy chairman of the IPCC, said: 'Today's report brings an end to the IPCC's involvement in this sorry chapter of the Sapphire unit's history. Scotland Yard failed to hold gross misconduct proceedings against three officers accused of failings in the investigation into serial sex offender Kirk Reid, it emerged today. Deborah Glass from the IPCC said it was 'enormously frustrating' that action had not been taken. The IPCC recommended that a superintendent and two inspectors should face gross misconduct proceedings. Ms Glass said: 'They need to demonstrate to the people of London that they are taking this seriously and they are holding officers to account.' She wrote to the Metropolitan Police in June 2010 to complain about 'the unhappy litany of delay and prevarication' in taking action, but received no reply. The superintendent, who is now a Chief Superintendent, was given 'words of advice', through an internal management procedure. The detective chief inspector, who is now a superintendent, was given a written warning, as was the detective inspector, who remains at the same rank. Football coach Reid was found guilty of stalking and preying on 25 women over 12 years in the Balham, Clapham and Tooting areas of south west London. It emerged during his trial that police did not arrest him until four years after he was first named as a suspect and a separate IPCC inquiry was carried out into apparent blunders and failings. The findings of our investigation into the rape reported in November 2008 were also deeply disturbing. The victim was failed by the people from whom she had sought help. Since 2009, when the unit came under central command, Sapphire has changed considerably and continues to evolve. 'But given the number of cases where the MPS's response to victims has failed, either through individual officers" criminality or neglect or more systemic problems of training, priorities and resources, the response that "lessons have been learned" begins to ring hollow. That is why I asked representatives of those who actually deal with victims to advise me of their experience of whether lessons have indeed been learned and I am very grateful to those who attended a meeting at the IPCC in December 2012 for sharing their expertise. It is encouraging that this experience has, for the most part, improved considerably, though there is still more to be done. The MPS have recently reconstituted their external reference group and it is their responsibility to maintain this vital link - which if properly used will provide them with an early warning system against potential future problems before they become headlines. The MPS must now ensure that this improvement is built on and continues - and remain vigilant to ensure that they do not lose focus on this area as other policing priorities emerge, or as they face further pressure on resources. The force has previously been criticised for failures over serial sex offenders sports coach Kirk Reid and taxi driver John Worboys. In another case, Detective Constable Ryan Coleman-Farrow, who was based in Southwark, was jailed for 16 months in October last year for failing to investigate rape and sexual assault claims. A second officer, based in Islington, north London, is still under criminal investigation. In total 19 officers from across London have been disciplined, including three who have been sacked. However, it also emerged today that Scotland Yard has failed to bring gross misconduct proceedings against three officers involved in the Reid case. This was despite the IPCC recommending that the hearings took place, and a letter sent to the force by Ms Glass expressing her frustration at delays. In fact, two of the officers involved have since been promoted. Scotland Yard released a statement saying: 'The Metropolitan Police Service welcomes the findings of the IPCC report into the investigation of rape on Southwark borough between July 2008 and September 2009. We have for some time acknowledged that previous investigation of rape and serious sexual assault in the MPS was below standard. The Met has previously been criticised for failures over serial sex offender taxi driver John Worboys (left) while Det Con Ryan Coleman-Farrow (right) was jailed for 16 months for failing to investigate rape claims The activities identified in this report came during that era and highlight specific issues within Southwark which resulted in unacceptable actions by local officers. It is as a result of such failings that we have made substantial changes to the investigation of rape and serious sexual assault, both in terms of structure and revised working practices. In 2009 Sapphire was moved to Specialist Crime and Operations to increase the focus on victim care and improve investigation standards. This has led to increased supervision and the Met being much better placed to identify any wrongdoing and refer it to the IPCC. The number of prosecutions has increased by 18 per cent and victim care has improved significantly. We are not complacent and know there is always more that can be done to improve our service to victims. That is why we continue to work closely with key partners including the CPS, the Havens and charities such as Rape Crisis. There is also more focussed engagement with external scrutiny bodies ensuring the MPS learns lessons and continues to improve performance and public confidence.