Dame Cressida Dick and Scotland Yard faced more criticism today amid claims that an “extraordinary story of blunders” enabled Sarah Everard’s killer to become a Metpolice officer.
Lord Stevens, who as Sir John Stevens was Met Commissioner between 2000 and 2005, said the vetting process was “not fit for purpose” in failing to prevent the recruitment of Wayne Couzens to the force in 2018.
He spoke out as it emerged that Couzens shared offensive material on a WhatsApp group with five serving officers, including three from the Met, months before he killed Ms Everard.
These messages were discovered during the investigation into Ms Everard’s murder. As many as 16 serving or former police officers are believed to be under investigation.
The IOPC said an off-duty Met officer who went on to staff a cordon during the search for Ms Everard had shared an “inappropriate graphic, depicting violence against women” with colleagues on WhatsApp.
Two other probationary constables were investigated for gross misconduct for allegedly sharing the graphic and failing to challenge it. A decision is due soon from the IOPC on any sanctions.
The IOPC is also investigating allegations that officers from several forces breached professional standards when they used a messaging app to share information connected to the prosecution of Couzens.
Lord Stevens said the Met’s failure to link Couzens to an allegation of driving naked from the waist down in Kent in 2015, and him being nicknamed The Rapist by some colleagues, meant he should never have been issued with a gun and allowed to join the Met’s diplomatic protection squad.
“The vetting process is obviously not fit for purpose, and this needs all to be changed,” Lord Stevens told LBC. “It’s an extraordinary story of blunders.”
The Crown Prosecution Service is considering two allegations that Couzens exposed himself to staff at a McDonald’s restaurant in south London in February. Detectives today called for evidence into any further crimes committed by Couzens, 48, who yesterday was given a whole-life term for the abduction, rape and murder of Ms Everard, 33.
Policing minister Kit Malthouse said the case had dealt a “devastating blow” to public confidence in the police. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s hard to underestimate the impact of this tragic, awful case and the job that needs to be done over the months and years to come to rebuild trust.”
Scotland Yard said it would shortly publish a new strategy for tackling violence against women and girls. It vowed to improve its handling of indecent exposure allegations.
It said 650 new officers would be deployed in “busy public places, including those where women and girls often lack confidence that they are safe” and would increase patrols in “hotspot” locations for violence and harassment.
It said it was “unusual” for a plain-clothes officer to engage with the public, and advised anyone stopped to seek verification — for example, by asking for clarification on the officer’s police radio or by flagging down a passing bus.
Former Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today said Dame Cressida should resign. But Lord Stevens said she should remain in post.
