Police appeal for more victims of Wayne Couzens to come forward
Detectives have appealed for more victims of Wayne Couzens to come forward amid fears he could have got away with other sick crimes against women.
And an inquiry into how the serving Met policeman was allowed to rape and murder Sarah Everard warned that unless stricter vetting for recruits was brought in there is nothing to stop another officer turning killer. A report by Lady Elish Angiolini found at least three forces missed chances to stop Couzens, who built up a string of unpunished sex offences dating back 20 years and should never have been allowed to join the police.
And tragic Sarah’s grieving family said she would still be alive today if his crimes had been detected before he snatched her off the street in Clapham, South London, after a fake arrest and strangled her in Kent. Lady Elish identified a catalogue of failings in how Couzens was recruited and vetted, and how allegations against him were investigated.
Branding him a “predatory sex offender and murderer”, she said: “Wayne Couzens should never have been a police officer. And, without a significant overhaul, there is nothing to stop another Couzens operating in plain sight. Now is the time for change. I would urge all those in authority in every police force to read this and take immediate action. Sarah’s parents and loved ones live in the perpetual grief and pain of having lost Sarah in this way. Her death, and the public discourse it caused, should galvanise those responsible for policing to make sure this can never happen again.”
Sarah Everard (PA)Sarah’s family added: “It is obvious that Wayne Couzens should never have been a police officer. Whilst holding a position of trust, in relative he was a serial sex offender. Warning signs were overlooked throughout his career and opportunities to confront him missed. We believe that Sarah died because he was a police officer. She would never have got into a stranger’s car.”
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Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley apologised for the blunders that allowed Couzens to slip through the vetting net and join the force, despite several “red flag” warnings. He said: “We do not rule out the possibility that there are more victims of Wayne Couzens out there and anybody who wants to come forward with other allegations will be supported and taken seriously. Couzens’ crimes were horrific. He should not have been a police officer. We are deeply, deeply sorry.”
Mr Rowley pledged to change police vetting procedures and said the force was “relentlessly” trying to make improvements in the system. He added: “We have a long way to go. It’s a massive piece of work to do. But I need to reassure the women of London that we really get this.”
National Police Chiefs Council member Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said of Sarah’s murder: “This should never have happened. There is an urgent call for further action. I do not underestimate how important this is. I apologise to any woman or girl who has experienced abuse from a police officer.”
Members of Sarah's family (PA)The independent inquiry, commissioned by former Home Secretary Priti Patel, set out 16 key recommendations to government and policing leaders to prevent other officers from abusing their position of trust in “such a heinous way” again.
But Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the report was “too little too late”. She added: “We say that this report should be a watershed, but we said Sarah Everard’s murder three years ago should be a watershed and too little has changed. How long must we go on and say the same things?
“The reality on women’s safety is the number of prosecutions for domestic abuse has halved, rape prosecutions are still taking years, early action and intervention just does not happen.” Off-duty Couzens used his warrant card to stop marketing executive Sarah on March 3, 2021 during the pandemic when restrictions were in place. He drove her to a rural area near Dover in Kent, raped and strangled her with his police belt.
The depraved killer, who dumped Sarah’s body in woodland near Ashford, was jailed for life in March 2023 and will never be released. Mr Rowley said the offences Couzens had already been accused of will not be investigated further. He added: “Every one of those we believe was picked up by our investigation team that put Couzens in prison and has been gone through as thoroughly as possible.
“All the ones where the evidence was there and the CPS thought worth it from a public interest perspective have been prosecuted.” Police officers will be automatically suspended in future if charged with certain criminal offences, Home Secretary James Cleverly said yesterday.
Responding to the independent report on Couzens, he added: “Anyone who is not fit to wear the uniform for whatever reason must be removed from policing and every effort must be made to ensure that similar people never join. And there will be a presumption for dismissal for any officer found to have committed gross misconduct.
“I can announce today that there will also be an automatic suspension of police officers charged with certain criminal offences. Most police officers, of course, use their powers to serve the public bravely and well, but when they fall short the impact can be devastating. Society cannot function properly where trust in police is eroded.”
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Mr Cleverly said the report by Lady Elish was a “deeply distressing but incredibly important piece of work”. It’s recommendations include improving the police response to indecent exposure, reforming recruitment and vetting practices and addressing cultures within the force. Mr Cleverly added: “The Government will carefully consider the report and respond in due course.”
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