LONDON (Reuters) – A public inquiry will examine how a serving British police officer was in a position to abduct and murder a girl, the inside ministry introduced on Monday, and whether or not he could have been stopped from finishing up a criminal offense that horrified the nation.
Wayne Couzens, 48, an officer whose job was to guard diplomatic premises within the British capital, kidnapped advertising government Sarah Everard, 33, on a London road as she walked house in March final yr, after which raped and murdered her.
“I’m decided to perceive the failings that enabled a serving officer to commit such heinous crimes – we owe an evidence to Sarah’s household and family members, and we want to do all in our energy to stop one thing like this from ever occurring once more,” Home Secretary Priti Patel mentioned.
Everard’s murder led to public rallies and outpourings of anger from ladies who recounted their very own experiences and fears of being out alone at night time.
It additionally raised questions on whether or not earlier issues about Couzens had been correctly checked by police, together with an indecent publicity incident to which he was linked in 2015, and two additional such allegations final yr.
The inquiry, to be held in two components, will firstly examine whether or not any “crimson flags” have been missed, his abuse of police powers, and if any points relating to his behaviour, significantly in relation to ladies, have been recognized and raised by colleagues.
Those findings will likely be used for a second a part of the inquiry to take into account what additional motion ought to be thought-about to defend ladies and for policing normally.
Elish Angiolini, who will lead the inquiry, mentioned Monday’s announcement was a big step ahead to “making certain Sarah’s household and the broader public get a full understanding and clarification of the causes of, and components contributing to, this tragic and harrowing murder.”
(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Alistair Smout and Paul Sandle)
