Background
On the evening of 3 March 2021, Sarah Everard was walking home in south London when she was abducted by Wayne Couzens, a serving Metropolitan Police constable and firearms officer with the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP) command. Couzens showed her his police warrant card and handcuffed her in a false arrest — the judge indicated he had probably claimed he was arresting her for breaching COVID guidelines — before raping and murdering her.
He pleaded guilty to kidnap and rape on 8 June 2021 and to murder on 9 July 2021. On 30 September 2021 he received a whole life order at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), meaning he will never be released. The sentencing remarks emphasised the gross betrayal of public trust in a police officer using the powers and tools of the office to commit the crime.
It later emerged that Couzens had a history of alleged indecent exposure stretching back years — including incidents reported to Kent Police in 2015 and at a McDonald's in Swanley just days before the murder — that were not acted upon. The Angiolini Inquiry concluded he should never have been a police officer and that multiple forces missed red flags during vetting.
Timeline
- 2015Kent Police receive a report of indecent exposure matching Couzens; not acted upon.
- 28 Feb 2021Indecent exposure reported at a McDonald's in Swanley, Kent — days before the murder.
- 3 Mar 2021Sarah Everard abducted in south London using a false arrest.
- 8 Jun 2021Couzens pleads guilty to kidnap and rape.
- 9 Jul 2021Pleads guilty to murder.
- 30 Sep 2021Sentenced to a whole life order at the Old Bailey.
- 29 Feb 2024Angiolini Inquiry Part 1 published: he should never have been an officer; vetting red flags missed.
How It Changed Policing
The murder caused a national crisis of confidence in policing, particularly around the safety of women and the conduct and vetting of officers. It prompted official inquiries, reviews of how allegations against officers are handled, and significant changes to vetting and misconduct processes across England and Wales.
The case became a reference point in wider scrutiny of the Metropolitan Police, feeding into the Casey Review and the Angiolini Inquiry, and accelerating national reforms to identify and remove officers who are unfit to serve — including re-vetting of serving officers and a tougher dismissals regime.
Reforms & New Standards
Angiolini Inquiry
An independent inquiry chaired by Lady Elish Angiolini examined how Couzens was able to serve as an officer. Part 1, published 29 February 2024, found he should never have been a police officer and that forces missed red flags during vetting.
Casey Review of the Met
Baroness Casey's review found systemic failings in the Metropolitan Police, including in vetting and misconduct handling, and made wide-ranging recommendations for reform.
Vetting & misconduct reform
The case drove national work to strengthen officer vetting, re-check serving officers against databases, and make it easier to dismiss officers who fail vetting or commit misconduct.