Iftikhar Manzoor of Hudgell Solicitors, who represented her in her civil claim against the Met, said the force’s attitude to vulnerable women in the 1990s was very different.
“It’s absolutely staggering that Tina was there, crying out for help and assistance, raising her complaints and not being taken seriously, not once but twice,” he said.
The claim was brought in negligence and under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, incorporated by the Human Rights Act 1998, which bars inhuman or degrading treatment.
“The civil claim was not only about financial redress,” Manzoor said.
“It was also about accountability, some answers.” He said time limits created legal obstacles but the Met had agreed to negotiate.
The Met said officers had met Tina and acknowledged “that more should have been done at the time to protect her”.
The civil settlement, reached on 19 March, was made without any admission of liability.
A review by the force’s Directorate of Professional Standards examined its handling of three reports she made against Allchorne between 1991 and 2018. It found no misconduct by the officers involved.
A spokesperson said there had been “learnings for the Met” and that it had since changed the way it investigates rape and sexual offences, adding: “Every woman and girl in London deserves to feel safe.”
The force says arrests and charges for rape in London have more than doubled in the past year.
Now, Tina wants others to come forward, however long ago the abuse took place.
“The perpetrator got punished for what he did, for all the years that he damaged me. So it’s never, ever too late. People have got to do the right thing. It’s hard but they’re not alone,” she said.
“I do think people like myself speaking out loud is important. If I can help one person, then it’s all been worth it.”
For sexual abuse support, visit the BBC Action Line website here.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to [email protected], external
