Ex-Met detective lied about wife's death in Barbados

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 15 Nov, 12:49 · Archive

A former Metropolitan Police detective investigated for sexually exploiting victims lied about his wife's death in a Barbados hotel room.

Warren Arter, a former Metropolitan Police detective, lied about the circumstances of his wife Rebekah's death in a Barbados hotel room in June 2024. Arter had subjected Rebekah to sexual and domestic abuse, coercive control and drugging over more than a decade, having first met her when she reported domestic abuse to the Metropolitan Police. When Rebekah died at age 47, Arter told conflicting stories about what had happened, and hotel staff reported he appeared to be 'trying to find the right story that fits'.

The cause of Rebekah's death remains unknown, with a UK coroner recording an open verdict. Barbados authorities failed to preserve evidence and interview hotel staff properly about Arter's behaviour. The Metropolitan Police declined to send detectives to investigate despite a request from Rebekah's family, stating no allegation of criminality had been made. Her family have accused the Met of failing her.

Arter was arrested days after returning to the UK on suspicion of abusing another woman and took his own life at age 54 in a cell at HMP Wandsworth. The Met has since acknowledged that 'opportunities to prevent his offending were missed'. Arter had been head of a unit investigating rape cases in south-east London.

How it is being reported

• Ex-Met detective lied about wife's death in Barbados as disturbing details emergeA former Met detective gave conflicting accounts of his wife's death in a Barbados hotel, while a UK inquest found that vital evidence had been destroyed.Daily Express · 15 Nov, 12:56
• Shamed Met Police detective 'lied about wife's death in Barbados'Warren Arter abused his partner Rebekah for ten years, and told a string of conflicting stories in the hours after she died in June 2024.Daily Mail · 15 Nov, 12:38
• Ex-Met Police inspector lied about wife's death in BarbadosWarren Arter faced claims of sexually exploiting crime victims - his wife was found in a blood-stained room.BBC News · 15 Nov, 06:01

In this story: Warren Arter · Rebekah Arter · Metropolitan Police · Barbados · HMP Wandsworth

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log