Wayne Couzens report — Findings of inquiry into Sarah Everard’s killer reveal police failings and 16 recommendations
AN independent report into the killing of Sarah Everard has been published.
The of sex crimes by gun cop Wayne Couzens before he murdered Sarah Everard.
Everard was abducted and murdered by Couzens in 2021 after he used his authority as a police officer to trick her into getting in his car.
Later it was revealed concerns had been raised over Couzens before Sarah's murder.
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Police force 'could and should have stopped him'
Lady Elish said: "The fact remains that three separate police forces allowed him the privilege of being a police officer when they could and should have stopped him."
She said of the monster hiding in the ranks: "Wayne Couzens is a predatory sex offender and murderer.
"Evidence of his alleged sexual offending, his preference for extreme and violent pornography and his unmanaged debts date back to nearly 20 years prior to Sarah's murder."
Over 1,000 officers now suspended or on restricted duties
According to reports, Wayne Couzens' convictions have led to the Met taking the decision to review other cases.
Thousands of previous cases have now been reviewed including those where officers faced allegations of domestic or sexual violence.
Consequently, 1,000 Met officers are now currently suspended or on restricted duties due to the reviews.
Recruitment and vetting failures
Repeated failures in recruitment and vetting procedures led to Couzens being allowed to "enjoy the powers and privileges" that came with the trusted position of a police officer.
Despite failing police vetting clearance twice he was astonishingly still admitted to three forces and was permitted to carry a gun in his role as a firearms officer.
He first failed the necessary checks in 2008 when trying to join Kent police and later when trying to join the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
On the second occasion, vetting was outsourced to Thames Valley Police who recommended that he should not pass the checks – but that advice was ignored.
The Inquiry has also found that the vetting carried out by the Metropolitan Police when he joined them in 2018 was "flawed" and did not take into account all the available evidence.
IOPC statement following report
IOPC Acting Director General Tom Whiting said: “Lady Elish Angiolini’s findings are stark and unflinching. She has set out a range of recommendations that must act as a catalyst for change.
“Her report reflects some of our own recommendations including better information sharing so forces are notified when a police officer is linked to an ongoing investigation, and changes to national police training and guidance to improve sexual offence investigations.
“However, as Lady Elish says, it will take more than just changes to policies, guidance and training to address systemic and cultural issues in policing. She has set out a challenge to police leaders that there must be fundamental change.
“As the police complaints watchdog, we also believe the time is right for radical reform of the police accountability system in this country. A fitness to practise or ‘licencing system’ would go a long way to dealing with the vetting and other issues identified in both Lady Elish review and the Baroness Casey report.
“A national licencing system, in line with many other professions, would bring much-needed consistency, legitimacy and accountability to the police service which in turn would help rebuild public trust and confidence.”
'Couzens crimes shocked the nation and undermined public confidence in the police'
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The horrific crimes committed by then-serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens shocked the nation and undermined public confidence in the police.
“In the years since, the Home Office has been working closely with the police to strengthen the way that police officers are vetted, scrutinised and disciplined. And more broadly, significant efforts have been made to tackle violence against women, girls.”
The spokesman added: “Today’s report highlights that more needs to be done and we will thoroughly consider the recommendations.”
Wayne Couzens will spend his life in prison
On September 30, 2021, Wayne Couzens was given a full life sentence for Sarah Everard’s murder and was told that he would die in prison.
This marked the first time a police officer had received this sentence.
Lord Justice Fulford explained at the time that the rare sentencing was given due to the fact Couzens had abused his position as a police officer.
The judge said: “Sarah Everard was a wholly blameless victim of a grotesquely executed series of circumstances that culminated in her death and the disposal of her body. She was simply walking home.”
What happened to Sarah Everard?
Sarah, 33, disappeared after leaving a friend’s house in Clapham, South London, on the evening of March 3, 2021 at around 9pm.
She left the property and began walking to her home in Brixton, spending 15 minutes on the phone with her boyfriend as she walked.
Police launched a huge search and on March 9 detectives investigating Sarah’s disappearance charged a serving Met Police officer in his 40s – later identified as Couzens.
Sarah’s body was discovered in a woodland in Ashford, Kent, a week after she disappeared.
Post-mortem results revealed that Sarah died from compression to the neck.
The report 'shines a light on systematic failings in police investigations'
Sadiq Han has taken to X to issue a statement following today's report.
The Mayor of London said: "My thoughts are with Sarah Everard’s parents, her siblings, her loved ones and everyone who knew her. Sarah’s death shocked the nation.
"Her family, Londoners and the wider public rightly deserve answers and an explanation as to how a serving police officer was able to carry out this heinous crime and why so many warning signals were not acted upon sooner to prevent this tragedy.
"The report by Dame Elish Angiolini shines a light on systematic failings in police investigations, vetting and the handling of misconduct allegations.
"We all need to closely examine and consider all the findings of the inquiry. I’m determined to ensure lessons are learned and acted upon quickly by the police as part of a process of major reform - not just in London, but across the country - to raise standards, strengthen vetting and, above all else, prevent anything like this from ever happening again.
"National police regulations must be strengthened to make it harder for those who have faced serious allegations about their conduct and character to join any police force. And police disciplinary processes must be reformed to make it easier and quicker to remove officers who fall below the high standards rightly expected of those who are entrusted to keep us safe.
"As I have been saying for some time, the public deserve better from the Met and police forces across the country. There must be no hiding place for those who abuse their position of trust and authority within the police.
"That’s why I will continue to both support and hold the Met to account to improve vetting standards, support victims and root out all those who are unfit to serve as we build a safer London for everyone."
Who is Wayne Couzens?
Couzens was a constable with the Metropolitan Police who lived in the coastal town of Deal with his wife and their two young kids when he was arrested six days after Sarah went missing on March 3, 2021. .
He had previously worked for more than 20 years as a light-vehicle body repair technician at a garage run by his dad in Dover.
In 2011 he left his job as a mechanic to follow in the footsteps of his brother, David, and became a cop.
In 2021, Couzens used his authority as a police officer to lure Sarah Everard into his car before abducting and killing her.
Sarah’s body was discovered in a woodland in Ashford, Kent, a week after she disappeared.
Wayne Couzens timeline
Here is a timeline of events concerning the former police officer:
2002: Couzens joins the Kent Special Constabulary.
2015: Kent Police allegedly fail to investigate an indecent exposure incident linked to Couzens.
September 2018: Couzens transfers to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) where he had worked since 2011.
February 2020: He moves to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command to patrol diplomatic premises, mainly embassies.
November 13, 2020: He steps out of a woodland area in Deal, Kent, naked and masturbates as a woman cycles past.
February 14 and 27, 2021: Couzens exposes himself to two female staff members at a drive-through fast food restaurant in Kent. He used his own credit card to pay and was driving his own car.
March 3, 2021: Then-Met Pc Samantha Lee goes to the fast food restaurant but does not trace Couzens' car, despite the restaurant manager claiming his registration number is visible in CCTV footage. She is later sacked and barred from working as a police officer.
Later that evening Couzens uses his status as a police officer to trick Miss Everard into thinking she can be arrested for breaking lockdown rules in place at the time. After murdering her, Couzens hides her body in woodland near Ashford in Kent.July 9, 2021: Couzens pleads guilty to murder when he appears at the Old Bailey by video link from Belmarsh high security jail.
September 30, 2021: Couzens receives a whole life order when he is sentenced, with Lord Justice Fulford justifying the punishment because the murderer's use of his position as a police officer to detain Ms Everard was the "vital factor".
November 2021: The Home Office establishes an independent inquiry led by Dame Elish Angiolini to look at Ms Everard's murder, with the first part focusing on Couzens and whether any potential risks or red flags were missed during his time in the police.
March 2022: Couzens is charged with four counts of indecent exposure over alleged incidents in January and February 2021.
March 21, 2023: The Casey Review, commissioned by the Met in the wake of Miss Everard's murder, finds that the force is institutionally racist, homophobic and misogynist, and that there may be more officers like Couzens and rapist David Carrick in its ranks.
May 2023: Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct calls for a national system to ensure all forces are told about criminal allegations made against serving officers, in light of the indecent exposure accusations against Couzens.
February 29, 2024: A report on the first part of the Angiolini Inquiry, looking at incidents during his career and whether red flags were missed, is published.
Kent Police release statement
In a statement, the force said: “Everyone at Kent Police is shocked, appalled and disgusted by the crimes Wayne Couzens committed against Sarah Everard and we share in the collective grief for her loss.
“Part I of the Angiolini Inquiry report has been made available to us today, and whilst we continue to carefully consider its contents we fully accept the recommendations made of Kent Police.
“We also accept our investigation into a 2015 incident of indecent exposure was flawed due to it being allocated to an officer who was not a trained investigator, and apologise for this failing.”
Home Secretary delivers statement in The Commons
Home Secretary James Cleverly is delivering a statement in The Commons following today's deeply distressing but incredibly important report.
Cleverly said: "Everyone who Couzens hurt is in my thoughts today."
He went on to add that they are working on laws to make sure convicted rapists will serve their full sentence in prison.
Key updates from latest report
- Couzens allegedly carried out a "very serious sexual assault" on a young girl while he was in his 20s
- He was also accused of attempting to kidnap a woman at knifepoint in North London back in 1995
- The father-of-two was further accused by two women of raping them
- One of the complainants alleged Couzens attacked her between late 2006 and early 2007 during a singles dating event at an East London bar
- The other claimed she was raped by Couzens under a bridge in London in October 2019
- In the summer of that year a man in drag wearing a blonde wig claimed Couzens inappropriately touched him in a Kent bar
'There may even be more victims' - Angiolini
The inquiry is aware of five other alleged incidents of sexual offending by Couzens “which for many understandable reasons were never reported to police".
“Given the known under-reporting of sexual offences, I believe there may be even more victims of Couzens’ offending,” Angiolini added.
'There is a need for greater transparency here'
Information Commissioner John Edwards said: “This inquiry paints a concerning picture of how disciplinary concerns about police officers and recruits are shared.
“There is no room to hide behind misconceptions of the law on such an important matter: data protection law does not stand in the way of police sharing information about a potential recruit’s previous disciplinary action or warnings, nor does it act as a shield against investigations into police officers.
“There is a need for greater transparency here. The public have a right to understand how information will be shared to encourage trust in high standards of policing, and police officers have a right understand how their information will be shared.
“We’ll continue working with the police to make sure data protection law, and the data sharing it allows, is clearly understood and works to serve and protect the best interests of the people of the UK.”
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley responds to report
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has responded to today's report.
He said: "There is nothing we can say to the family of Sarah Everard and all those who loved her that will convey how very sorry we are.
"Wayne Couzens' crimes were horrific. The fact that he abused his position as a Metropolitan Police officer to carry them out represents the most appalling betrayal of trust. It damages the relationship between the public and the police and exposes long-standing fundamental flaws in the way we decide who is fit to be a police officer and the way we pursue those who corrupt our integrity once they get in.
"The report published today is an urgent call to action for all of us in policing. We must go further and faster, to earn back the trust of all those whose confidence in policing has been shaken by events of recent years.
"Regardless of our significant progress over the past year, the scale of the change that is needed inevitably means it will take time and it is not yet complete. The majority of my Met colleagues share my determination to reform by both confronting the risk posed by predatory men in policing, and also, improving our protection of women and children across London."
Sarah Everard's family statement in full
Sarah's family, Sue, Jeremy, Katie and James Everard have released the following statement.
"We have read, with great interest, the first part of the Angiolini inquiry and we are enormously grateful to Lady Elish and her team for their meticulous and in-depth work.
"The Inquiry has raised many important issues and will undoubtedly help to establish changes that will improve the safety of women and girls.
"As a family, the Inquiry has helped us, not just because of its significant findings, but because its implementation made us feel that Sarah's life was valued and her memory honoured.
"Her death has not been dismissed as a tragic event to be acknowledged with sympathy and then forgotten - questions have been raised and actions taken to investigate how this tragedy happened.
"As a family, we have not had to fight for answers and, for this, we are very thankful.
"It is obvious that Wayne Couzens should never have been a police officer.
"Whilst holding a position of trust, in reality he was a serial sex offender.
"Warning signs were overlooked throughout his career and opportunities to confront him were missed.
"We believe that Sarah died because he was a police officer - she would never have got into a stranger's car.
"We strongly support the recommendations that Lady Elish has made and trust that these will be implemented forthwith.
"We cannot get Sarah back, but positive changes give hope for the future and will be of benefit to others.
"It is almost three years now since Sarah died. We no longer wait for her call; we no longer expect to see her.
"We know she won't be there at family gatherings. But the desperate longing to have her with us remains and the loss of Sarah pervades every part of our lives.
"The care and support of family, friends and the wider community have helped us to bear this and we would like to thank them.
"We will be forever grateful to Lady Elish and her team for their hard work, support and consideration.
"They have out heartfelt thanks. We would also like to thank the Rt. Hon. Priti Patel MP, who, in her role as Home Secretary, commissioned the Inquiry."
Report reveals how Couzens allegedly carried out nine indecent exposure offences
The inquiry report also reveals how Couzens watched child pornography and allegedly carried out nine indecent exposure offences, mostly while he was serving in the police.
But the report highlights how police forces failed to investigate him properly over the sordid incidents – leaving him free to exploit his position as a police officer to abduct Sarah, 33.
Report reveals multiple allegations against Couzens
The Angiolini report reveals for the first time how Couzens allegedly carried out a "very serious sexual assault" on a young girl "barely into her teens" while he was in his 20s.
Couzens, now 51, was also accused of attempting to kidnap a woman at knifepoint in North London back in 1995 when he was aged 23.
Married father-of-two Couzens was further accused by two women of raping them, report reveals.
One of the complainants alleged Couzens attacked her between late 2006 and early 2007 during a singles dating event at an East London bar.
Couzens vetting to join Met was 'flawed'
Dame Elish Angiolini has said that the vetting for Couzens to join the Metropolitan Police force was "flawed".
The report has said that police investigations into alleged indecent exposure in 2015 and 2021 were “of poor quality and inadequate”, and “seemed destined to fail from the start”.
“Rather than embarking on a process of detailed, thorough and time-consuming evidence-gathering, the officers displayed apathy and disinterest and found reasons not to pursue the cases.”
Report concludes that Couzens should not have been a police officer
The landmark Angiolini Inquiry report concluded that Couzens should never have been a police officer.
A series of "red flag" opportunities to oust him from the force and stop his offending was also missed by three different forces.
Kent Police bungled two investigations into indecent exposures carried out by Couzens, the first in 2015 while he was serving with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
Sarah's family release statement
The family of Sarah Everard have released a statement following the release of the report.
The family said: "It is obvious that Wayne Couzens should never have been a police officer. Whilst holding a position of trust, in reality he was a serial sex offender.
"Warning signs were overlooked throughout his career and opportunities to confront him were missed.
"We believe that Sarah died because he was a police officer - she would never have got into a stranger's car."
Dame Elish Angiolini statement
Dame Elish Angiolini is now giving a statement following the release of the report.
Angiolini has said Couzens "manipulated information on applications" and "evidence of his alleged offending date back nearly 20 years".
Report calls for 'significant overheaul' into police recruitment
The report has called for a radical overhaul of police vetting and recruitment.
Angiolini says in the report: "Without a significant overhaul, there is nothing to stop another Couzens operating in plain sight."
She goes on to say: "All those in authority in every police force in the country to read this report and take immediate action".
What will part one of the Angiolini report contain?
Part one of the soon to be released report will include a timeline of Couzens career. This will include allegations of his criminal behaviour and misconduct.
The report will also include information relating to his transfers between police forces.
It will also include details on what extent his colleagues were aware of, or raised, any issues about his behaviour.