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Five police officers from four different forces are facing disciplinary action over messages about Wayne Couzens.

Couzens received a whole-life prison sentence last month after admitting to the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.

Now, two officers from the Metropolitan Police, and one from each force in Sussex, Dorset and Avon and Somerset are subject to misconduct hearings.

SARAH EVERARD
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Sarah Everard was killed by Wayne Couzens

One of the Met Police officers facing disciplinary action was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in March.

The constable on probation, who went on to staff a cordon as part of the search for Ms Everard, was investigated over allegations they used WhatsApp “to share with colleagues an inappropriate graphic, depicting violence against women” while off-duty.

The investigation, completed in August, indicated that the graphic was intended to be in reference to the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard.

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‘Every police officer should be re-vetted’

The IOPC said: “The image was highly offensive and the officer now has a case to answer for misconduct for potentially breaching standards of professional behaviour for conduct and authority, respect and courtesy. The officer will face a misconduct meeting to answer the allegations.”

Another probationary constable had a case to answer for “allegedly sharing the graphic and failing to challenge it” and will also be subject to a misconduct meeting.

An officer from Dorset Police, who was on secondment from the force at the time of the alleged offence, is facing a gross misconduct hearing.

It is alleged that the officer posted details of an interview given by Couzens under caution, which were presented during a non-reportable court hearing.

In April this year, police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), warned officers about the “unacceptable use of social media”.

The warning was based “on a number of cases involving the posting of offensive and inappropriate material”, the IOPC regional director, Sal Naseem, said.

He added that the allegations if proven, have the “capacity to further undermine public confidence in policing”.

“They also once more illustrate the potential consequences for officers and come at a time when policing standards and culture have never been more firmly in the spotlight,” Mr Naseem added.

The IOPC wrote to the National Police Chiefs Council asking them to remind forces and officers of their obligations under the police Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Behaviour.”

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Other ongoing investigations are looking at how Kent Police in 2015, and the Met in 2021, handled allegations of indecent exposure now linked to Couzens.

Both investigations are considering whether policies and procedures were followed, and if any issues identified may have impacted the vetting of the former officer.

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13-year-old girl charged with attempted murder after two teachers and pupil stabbed at Carmarthenshire school

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13-year-old girl charged with attempted murder after two teachers and pupil stabbed at Carmarthenshire school

A 13-year-old girl has been charged with three counts of attempted murder after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at a school.

The three people were treated in hospital for stab wounds but have now been released.

Pupils at Amman Valley School, also known as Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, went into lockdown just after 11.20am on Wednesday following the attack at the end of morning break in Carmarthenshire.

Amman Valley School, which is in the town of Ammanford, is a comprehensive with around 1,500 students aged between 11 and 18.

In a statement on the school’s website, headteacher James Durbridge said on Wednesday it had been a “very difficult day” for the school.

“It goes without saying that my thoughts are with the three individuals and their families, who have been affected by today’s incident,” he said.

“I wish to commend all staff and pupils for their calm and mature response during today’s lockdown.

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“We are proud to have witnessed pupils embodying the school’s core values while supporting their peers and staff.”

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Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy has been arrested and remains in custody on suspicion of making threats referencing the school attack, Dyfed-Powys Police has said.

Superintendent Ross Evans said: “Following [the stabbing incident], yesterday evening our control room received a number of calls reporting concerns about messages being shared on social media which had references to the incident here at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman.

“Officers swiftly carried out a warrant at the home of the person believed to be responsible for this content and a 15-year-old male has been arrested.

“He also remains in police custody while we investigate these allegations.”

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Two horses which bolted through central London in a ‘serious condition’

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Two horses which bolted through central London in a 'serious condition'

Two horses which bolted and charged through central London are in a “serious condition”, a minister has said.

The Household Cavalry said the animals – which were taking part in what the Army called a “routine exercise” in the Belgravia area on Wednesday – were spooked by builders dropping rubble from a height “right next to them”.

Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych.
Pic : PA
Image:
Two horses bolted through the streets of London. Pic : PA

Defence minister James Cartlidge told Sky News on Thursday morning: “There were five horses. They have all been recovered.

“Three of them are fine, two of them are unfortunately in a relatively serious condition and obviously we will be monitoring that condition.”

He added: “They are in a serious condition, but as I understand, still alive.”

The minister also confirmed the names of the two animals, Vida and Quaker.

He stressed while the footage that emerged of the horses running through the capital was “dramatic”, it was “a very exceptional event”.

“This is extremely unlikely, this scenario,” he told LBC.

“Unfortunately we have seen what has happened, but all I can say is the crucial thing… no serious injuries to the public as far as we aware, and of course we will be keeping an eye on the situation.”

A map of where the horses travelled
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A map of where the horses travelled

Four service personnel were thrown from their horses and the animals that ran loose smashed into vehicles, including a taxi and a tour bus.

Paramedics treated four people in three separate incidents in Buckingham Palace Road, Belgrave Square, and at the junction of Chancery Lane and Fleet Street, in the space of just 10 minutes.

Some of the soldiers were taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries, which were not thought to be serious.

Pic: Alice Porter
Image:
Pic: Alice Porter

Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near Aldwych. 
Pic PA
Image:
Pic. PA

One witness got off a bus and described seeing two horses, one black and the other white, “flying past”.

“The white one was drenched in blood from the chest down and they were galloping through the traffic at speed,” she said.

“People were stopping in the street shocked. The horses were running into fast-moving traffic and seemed terrified. Some unmarked police cars were chasing after them, which didn’t seem to be helping.

“I felt shocked. It was pretty gruesome. Felt like a weird dream.”

The horses were eventually recaptured by City of London Police and taken away to be assessed by Army vets.

The animals are all receiving care from vets at Hyde Park barracks.

Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Matt Woodward said in a video statement posted on X the unit exercises around 150 horses on the roads and in parks every morning, partly to help desensitise them to city noise.

He said the “shock” of building materials being dropped from a height near them caused the horses to bolt and unseat some riders

He added: “Thankfully, considering the frequency of exercise and numbers of horses involved, this type of incident is extremely rare, we continue to strive to minimise the risk of this recurring.

“As ever we are grateful for due consideration given by the members of the public to not making loud noises around our horses.”

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UK weather: Why is it suddenly cold and when is it forecast to get warmer?

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UK weather: Why is it suddenly cold and when is it forecast to get warmer?

When temperatures hit nearly 22C in parts of England earlier this month, people might have thought that spring had finally sprung.

But with May fast approaching, temperatures have suddenly dropped, forcing some back into their winter coats and others to switch the heating on once again.

So what has caused the mercury to drop to near-freezing in some parts?

According to Sky News weather presenter Jo Wheeler, an area of high pressure to the west of the UK is behind it.

UK weather: The latest Sky News forecast

thurs0600
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Temperatures were as low as 3C this morning in parts of the UK

“High pressure to the west of the UK and Ireland gave hopes for a few days of settled weather, even though it was forecast to be a ‘cloudy high’,” she says.

“And that is pretty much what we have seen, although the positioning of the high brought cold northerly winds – and eastern counties can vouch for this.

“The high was also weak enough to allow frontal systems (a collision of cold and warm air) to move through it, so we didn’t see entirely dry weather either.

“And, winds were strong enough to give a significant wind chill along the North Sea coasts, which was pretty bitter.”

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That, she says, has resulted in temperatures dropping a few degrees below the April average, though, according to Ms Wheeler “not by much”.

So when will temperatures rise again?

“We’re just a few days from May now, and a change is on the way,” she adds.

“Low pressure, spreading from the south at the weekend, will bring milder conditions but also some rain and fresher winds.”

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Labour promises publicly owned rail

However, the next few days could still be relatively cold, particularly overnight on Friday and potentially Saturday, when temperatures in parts of northern and eastern England could drop to near or even below freezing, according to the Met Office.

And while they say temperatures are likely to “trend upwards” from Sunday, rain and cloudier weather is set to dominate next week, particularly in the south.

According to the Met Office’s forecast for next week, there will be drier weather in northern parts of the UK and a chance of rain or even thundery showers for a time in the east.

“Temperatures [are] likely to trend upwards, with the chance of a warm to very warm spell in some southern and eastern parts, before conditions probably turn drier, cooler and more settled from the west towards the end of the period,” they say.

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