Sarah Everard: Cop guarding murder site shared sick memes and graphics in police WhatsApp group sparking probe

Mike Sullivan

Published: 22:00, 15 Mar 2021
Updated: 8:00, 16 Mar 2021

A COP guarding the site where Sarah Everard’s remains were found sent a twisted joke to colleagues on social media about her kidnap and murder.

The Met PC shared a meme — containing six images of a uniformed officer abducting a woman — in a WhatsApp group the night after the grim find.

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A cop at Sarah Everard's murder site shared sick pics and jokes in a police WhatsApp group - there is no suggestion the officers in this picture have been accused of wrongdoingCredit: PA

Sarah Everard, 33, went missing in south west LondonCredit: PA

Sickened colleagues reported the probationer to bosses the next day and he was immediately moved off the inquiry and placed on restricted duties with no direct involvement with the public.

Met armed officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with the kidnap and murder of Sarah, 33.

Her family were informed about the vile joke made by the rookie cop last Thursday.

Sarah’s remains were found in a builder's bag in woods on a disused golf course at Great Chart, near Ashford, Kent, last Wednesday night.

A high-level internal inquiry has been launched by the Met and the matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

A marquee set up as Metropolitan Police continue their search near Great Chart, KentCredit: PA

The Met said The PC was working on the cordon at the scene in Kent.

Assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: “The MPS expects its officers to behave professionally at all times and this includes how they use social media.

“I take allegations that any officer or officers have failed to observe these standards very seriously and have referred this matter to the IOPC.”

The rookie cop will have infuriated Met top brass, who have faced criticism for their handling of a vigil in Sarah’s memory which turned violent.

Cops were accused of heavy-handed tactics while arresting women at Saturday night’s event on Clapham Common, South West London, close to where Sarah vanished.

Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has rejected calls for her to quitCredit: LNP

The Met said The PC was working on the cordon at the scene in Kent - there is no suggestion the officers in this picture have been accused of wrongdoingCredit: UkNewsinPictures

The Met has faced criticism over the way it policed a vigil in Sarah’s memory (stock picture)Credit: PA

Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick rejected calls for her to quit, saying all women and men in the Met were appalled at what happened to Sarah.

But a source said: “There was one officer who found it worthy of making a joke about. It was disgraceful.”

Ex-Met detective chief inspector Mick Neville said “Being a frontline officer, dealing with crime and misery, often requires a gallows sense of humour to let off steam.

“But any decent officer knows the limits. Joking about a horrific murder and kidnap, whilst the family is grieving, is completely unacceptable.

“The last thing the Met needs is anything else to undermine the public’s trust in the force. This will do just that.”