Met under pressure to probe how Sarah Everard's killer remained on force

10 July 2021, 07:40

The Metropolitan Police force is under pressure to investigate how Sarah Everard's killer was able to continue serving as an officer despite suspicions being raised about his behaviour.

Serving constable Wayne Couzens, 48, had been accused of indecent exposure three times before he abducted Miss Everard in Clapham, south London, on March 3.

He pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to the murder of the 33-year-old marketing executive on Friday, having previously admitted her kidnap and rape.

Read more: Sarah Everard: Met Police officer Wayne Couzens pleads guilty to murder

Read more: Twelve officers investigated in relation to Sarah Everard killer Wayne Couzens' case

Harriet Wistrich, director of the Centre for Women's Justice, is among those calling for a full public inquiry into "police failures and misconduct and the wider culture of misogyny" following Couzens' guilty plea.

Miss Everard's murder sparked protests by women fearing for their own safety earlier this year.

Ms Wistrich said: "As protesters made clear, women do not feel safe and it is incumbent on the Government and all criminal justice agencies to now take action over the epidemic of male violence which is the other public health crisis of our day."

Read more: 'She was just walking home': the impact of Sarah Everard's murder

Nick Thomas Symonds, the shadow home secretary, has also urged police to review their vetting process.

The Labour MP said: "Society puts huge trust in the police to keep us safe and the vast majority of officers who serve their communities so bravely who will all be appalled by this case.

"It is absolutely vital that everything possible is done to ensure this can never happen again.

"The Metropolitan Police and wider policing must look at vetting processes and their own safeguarding systems to ensure people who pose a threat to the public are not able to hold such vital positions of trust."

Read more: Twelve officers investigated in relation to Sarah Everard killer Wayne Couzens' case

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into alleged failures by Kent Police to investigate an indecent exposure allegation against Couzens which dates back to 2015.

An IOPC probe is also ongoing into alleged failures by the Met to investigate two allegations of indecent exposure linked to Couzens in London in February this year, with two officers under investigation for possible breaches of professional standards.

The watchdog said a total of 12 gross misconduct or misconduct notices have so far been served on police officers from several forces relating to the Couzens case.