Sarah Everard’s killer ‘should never have been an officer’: Report demands overhaul of police vetting

Published

2 months ago

February 29, 2024

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Wayne Couzens should never have been a police officer and there needs to be a “radical overhaul” of police recruitment to stop “another Couzens operating in plain sight”, an inquiry into the rape and murder of Sarah Everard has found.

The independent report – the first of three that will be published by Lady Elish Angiolini – delivered a damning verdict on how three separate police forces “could and should” have stopped Couzens.

The Home Office commissioned inquiry was established to understand how the off-duty Metropolitan Police officer was able to carry out his horrendous crime.

Today’s report examined Couzens’ career and highlights how major red flags about him were “repeatedly ignored” by police vetting and investigations.

A preference for “extreme and violent pornography” and “a history of excessive spending and personal debt” were among the warning signs that were missed.

The inquiry said it has also seen evidence that Couzens allegedly committed a “very serious sexual assault against a child” before his policing career even began.

The firearms officer will never be released from prison after he used his police-issued warrant card to stage a fake arrest and snatch Sarah Everard in Clapham, south London, on 3 March 2021.

He drove the 33-year-old marketing executive to a secluded rural area near Dover in Kent, raped and strangled her with his police-issue belt before burning her body in a fridge and dumping her remains in a pond.

After the harrowing killing, it emerged there had been concerns about Couzens’ behaviour while he was a police officer, with reports he was nicknamed “the rapist”.

Couzens indecently exposed himself three times before the murder, including twice at a drive-through fast food restaurant in Kent in the days before the killing.

He was not caught despite driving his own car and using his own credit card at the time.

Publishing her findings, Lady Elish said: “Failures of investigations, failures of recruitment processes, and failures of vetting policy and practice are a depressingly familiar refrain in policing.

“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.”

Couzens’ dreadful crimes expose wider issues

A while ago I interviewed a new police recruit, a personable young man called Tom Fonteyn who used to serve me a white americano in my local cafe before he decided to get what he considered a more meaningful career.

He had been rejected in his first application but was so determined to become a copper that he persevered and was finally accepted by Sussex Police.

He’d finished his probation and had just made his first arrest, but his sense of pride and achievement had been dented by the scandal of Wayne Couzens.

He told me: “Whenever the police mess up, it’s always straight on the news, but people like Wayne Couzens are just individuals, they don’t represent policing.”

But Couzens’s dreadful crimes did expose wider issues: terrible failings in vetting procedures, tolerance of bad attitudes and missed opportunities to sack a rogue officer.

The Angiolini Report has unearthed even more shameful details of what went wrong and
not just at the Metropolitan Police.

The Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley probably agrees with Mr Fonteyn’s thoughts on singling out one officer, but he can’t say so because, rightly or wrongly, PC Couzens really did become the poster boy for bad policing.

Rowley’s mission has been to tear down those posters and restore public confidence in policing. I think he’s doing his best, but Lady Angiolini’s findings will further damn his force in the public’s mind.

I’m sure the commissioner would also agree with Mr Fonteyn’s comments on his own police training, as he told me: “We are taught to respect people, treat them like you would your mum and dad, or your brother. Just being human is the really important thing. I want to help people.

“If you are called to deal with someone really struggling, and you’re the only person they see that day, in the time you are with them you can try and make a good impact on them, maybe guide them, even change their views on the police.”

That’s about as far from what Wayne Couzens did to his victim Sarah Everard as it’s possible to get.

Couzens failed at interview when he first tried to join Kent Police in 2004.

He became a volunteer constable with the county’s special constabulary in 2006, before failing to gain vetting clearance in a further application to join the regular police force in 2008.

Despite that vetting failure, he continued to work as a volunteer officer.

The next missed opportunity identified by the report was in 2011, when Couzens moved to the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC).

His application was vetted by Thames Valley Police, which recommended that Couzens should not pass vetting on the grounds of his financial situation.

Couzens’ financial issues

At the time he had an Individual Voluntary Arrangement, used by those in debt wishing to avoid bankruptcy, but the recommendation was not followed.

During an episode in 2013, when he was serving as an authorised firearms officer with the CNC, Couzens was “reported missing” from home. But the CNC was not informed and therefore denied an opportunity to revisit his suitability as a constable.

Couzens then moved to the Met in 2018 but again his initial vetting was “flawed”.

It failed to take into account entries linked to him on the Police National Database, which included his car being linked to an allegation of indecent exposure in 2015.

The report found that Couzens had substantial unsecured debt by the time he was arrested for Ms Everard’s murder, which “undoubtedly affected his ability to serve as an authorised firearms officer”.

It also details allegations of how Couzens tried to show colleagues violent and extreme pornography. On at least two occasions, he allegedly shared sexually graphic images with young women.

But the most glaring missed opportunities to disrupt Couzens’ offending and end his police career were the failures to properly investigate allegations of indecent assault.

Kent Police made ‘grave error’, report finds

Couzens was the subject of such allegations on four separate occasions before his arrest.

In 2015, a member of the public telephoned Kent Police having just seen a man driving a car while indecently exposing himself.

Almost immediately, officers identified Couzens as the registered keeper of the car and the only male insured to drive it.

But Kent Police closed the case and took no further action, which is described as a “grave error”.

The same force responded to an allegation of indecent exposure directed at a lone female cyclist in a narrow, country lane in Deal in 2020.

Couzens was convicted of the offence in 2023, but the initial case was closed with limited investigation.

Then, just days before he abducted Sarah Everard, Couzens was reported for exposing himself at a drive-through McDonald’s restaurant in Swanley.

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But evidence such as CCTV was not collected or considered in the Met’s investigation, which “fell below the standards any victim of crime should expect”.

The inquiry says it is aware of five other alleged incidents of sexual offending involving Couzens which were never reported to the police.

In her report, Lady Elish, a former solicitor general for Scotland, lays out 16 recommendations to “bring about the necessary changes”.

They include an overhaul of police vetting and recruitment, improvements to the police response to indecent exposure and an immediate review of indecent exposure charges against serving police officers.

“I would urge all those in authority in every police force in the country to read this report and take immediate action,” she said. “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 something like this can never happen again.”

Sarah Everard’s family respond to inquiry

Sarah Everard’s family “strongly support” the recommendations, which will “improve the safety of women and girls”.

In a statement, they said: “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 action taken to investigate how this tragedy happened.”

They added: “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.

“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 her loss of Sarah pervades every part of our lives.”

The second part of the inquiry will take a broader look at police vetting and recruitment nationally, as well as police culture and the protection of women in public spaces.

Part three will investigate the crimes and career of former Metropolitan Police Officer David Carrick, who was jailed for at least 30 years last year after being unmasked as one of Britain’s worst ever sex offenders.

UK

More human remains found in two locations as part of Salford torso inquiry

Published

5 hours ago

April 28, 2024

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More human remains found in two locations as part of Salford torso inquiry

More human remains have been found in two locations as part of an investigation that started when a man’s torso was discovered in Salford.

Police believe the torso belongs to a man in his 60s and have informed his family about his death, but have not yet identified him publicly.

In a news conference today, officers revealed the victim is believed to have known two men who are currently in custody. They are believed to have lived together.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes said they were looking at four crime scenes in Salford and the Greater Manchester area.

The human remains discovered over the last two days were found at Salford’s Blackleach Reservoir and Linnyshaw Colliery Wood.

Officers had already identified the two scenes before the remains were found and were “on route to the Colliery Wood” when a member of the public called to say they had found a package, said Det Supt Hughes.

Police officers found the other remains at the reservoir today while searching the area.

“We are very confident it is the same victim,” Det Supt Hughes added.

The victim is believed to have died in late March.

Police are searching a warehouse in Bury where “items were stored after this incident without the knowledge of occupants of that warehouse,” said Det Supt Hughes.

They’re also searching a house in Winton where the victim “was believed to have lived with the two men in custody”.

The first remains – consisting of the bottom of the back, buttocks and thigh – were found in clear plastic by a passer-by at Kersal Dale Wetlands in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 4 April.

Two men, aged 42 and 68, from Salford, who are believed to be known to each other, were arrested on suspicion of murder on 25 April, GMP said, after officers trawled through hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.

The 42-year-old was arrested after officers stormed a bus in Eccles Old Road around midday, the force said.

The other man was later arrested at an address in Worsley Road.

A 20-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of murder was later released on bail pending further inquiries.

“It is too soon to rule out [looking for other suspects] but we’re confident at this time that we have the right two suspects in custody,” said Det Supt Hughes.

Detectives are still appealing the public for any information related to the crime and want to hear from witnesses, including dog walkers, who were in the area between 6am and 6pm on the day a passer-by made the original grim discovery.

More than 100 officers searched the Kersal Dale area for 12 days looking for evidence, working with an underwater search team and dogs before lifting the crime scene on 17 April.

UK

Small boat migrant arrivals by late April at highest level ever

Published

6 hours ago

April 28, 2024

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Small boat migrant arrivals by late April at highest level ever

The number of migrants that have crossed the Channel in small boats during the first four months of the year is at its highest ever level.

Some 7,167 people have arrived on UK shores after travelling by small boat from the continent between 1 January to 27 April, with 902 entering just this past week

This compares to 5,745 for the same period last year. The previous record was 6,691 in 2022.

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The figures come after Rishi Sunak has staked much of his political future on getting the number of migrant boat crossings down.

On Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme he said migrants travelling to Ireland after arriving in the UK on small boats was a sign the Rwanda scheme was already working as a deterrent.

“People are worried about coming here and that demonstrates exactly what I’m saying,” he told Sky News.

“If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won’t be able to stay there, they are much less likely to come, and that’s why the Rwanda scheme is so important.”

However, the news that migrants are crossing from Northern Ireland into the Republic has sparked an outcry in the country, and prompted the government in Dublin to announce they are planning emergency legislation to send asylum seekers back to Britain.

More than 80% of recent arrivals in the republic came via the land border with Northern Ireland, Irish justice minister Helen McEntee told a parliamentary committee last week.

Stopping the boats was one of the government’s five priorities set out by the prime minister after he took office in 2023.

The latest figures have been seized upon by Labour, with shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock saying: “This is the blunt reality behind all of Rishi Sunak’s empty boasts: more people have arrived by small boats so far this year than ever before and more people are having to be rescued.

“What will it take for Rishi Sunak to wake up and realise that his plan is not working?

“We desperately need a Labour government in place to get a grip of this issue.

“Our plan would strengthen Britain’s border security, crush the smuggling gangs, clear the asylum backlog, end hotel use, and set up a new returns and enforcement unit so those with no right to be in the UK are swiftly returned.”

Earlier this week, the prime minister said the government would “begin the process of removing those identified for the first flight” to Rwanda.

Mr Sunak said that they had increased detention spaces to 2,200 and had 200 caseworkers “ready and waiting” to process asylum claims.

He added that 25 courtrooms and 150 judges had been provided to deal with any legal cases quickly.

UK

Ireland pledging emergency legislation to send asylum seekers back to UK in wake of Rwanda bill being passed

Published

6 hours ago

April 28, 2024

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Ireland pledging emergency legislation to send asylum seekers back to UK in wake of Rwanda bill being passed

Ireland is pledging emergency legislation enabling it to send asylum seekers back to the UK.

More than 80% of recent arrivals in the republic came via the land border with Northern Ireland, Irish justice minister Helen McEntee told a parliamentary committee last week.

Rishi Sunak told Sky News it showed the UK’s Rwanda scheme was already working as a deterrent after it finally became law last week.

Ireland’s deputy prime minister has said the threat of deportation to Rwanda is causing migrants to head for Ireland instead of the UK.

Micheal Martin said the policy was already affecting Ireland because people are “fearful” of staying in the UK.

The former taoiseach told The Daily Telegraph: “Maybe that’s the impact it was designed to have.”

Simon Harris, Ireland’s latest leader, has asked Ms McEntee to “bring proposals to cabinet to amend existing law regarding the designation of safe ‘third countries’ and allowing the return of inadmissible international protection applicants to the UK”, a spokesman said.

Ms McEntee said she will be meeting UK Home Secretary James Cleverly in London on Monday.

“There are many reasons why we have seen an increase in migration towards Ireland,” she told RTE.

“My focus as minister for justice is making sure that we have an effective immigration structure and system.

“That’s why I’m introducing fast processing, that’s why I’ll have emergency legislation at cabinet this week to make sure that we can effectively return people to the UK, and that’s why I’ll be meeting with the home secretary to raise these issues on Monday.”

People are now “worried” about coming to the UK, Rishi Sunak has said.

He told Sky News: “If people come to our country illegally, but know that they won’t be able to stay here, they are much less likely to come, and that’s why the Rwanda scheme is so important.”

Mr Sunak said the comments from Irish politicians show that “illegal migration is a global challenge”.

“[That] is why you’re seeing multiple countries talk about doing third country partnerships, looking at novel ways to solve this problem, and I believe [they] will follow where the UK has led,” he said.

Shadow minister Wes Streeting said it was unlikely a Labour government would bring people back from Rwanda if some are sent there.

“Once people are settled in Rwanda, they’re settled in Rwanda,” he told Sky News, adding it was doubtful that Labour would “unpick that situation”.

Regarding illegal migration in general, he said it required “putting the money that’s gone to Rwanda into the National Crime Agency so we can have proper cross-border policing to tackle the criminal gangs, speeding up the processing of decision-making, making sure we’ve got serious returns agreements with other countries”.

He added: “Those are solutions that can work.”