By Lucy Caulkett-
An inquiry will be launched into “systematic failures” that allowed Wayne Couzens to continue to be a police officer, Priti Patel has announced.
The home secretary today said the public deserved to know why the evil murderer remained in the Metropolitan Police, despite concerns about his behaviour.
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Couzens kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard while he was a serving officer, abusing his police warrant card.
Couzens murder of a young woman whose mother said she wanted to get married and have children, shocked the world. The act of brutality was its cruelist even by bad police standards displayed by their worst cops.
Couzens and those who protected him, tarnished the image of the Met, almost ruining the good name of genuine police officers who want to help people by enforcing the law.
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The fact allegations of indecent exposure against the police officer were also ignored, raises serious questions about the standards and efficiency of the Met Police in handling complaints about their own officers.
Couzens, who was an armed officer in the Met’s parliamentary and diplomatic protection team – was linked to several alleged incidents of indecent exposure, including in the days before Ms Everard’s abduction in March.
There has been outrage against the sytesm that failed to protect Everard from a beast amongst them.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Ms Patel said: “We need answers as to why this was allowed to happen.
“I can confirm today there will be an inquiry, to give the independent oversight needed, to ensure something like this can never happen again.”
The Home Office said the inquiry would be in two stages.
The first stage will examine Couzens’ behaviour and establishing a definitive account of his conduct in the lead up to his conviction for Ms Everard’s murder.
It said the second part would address specific issues, such as vetting procedures, standards, discipline and workplace behaviour.
Priti Patel said: “It is abhorrent that a serving police officer was able to abuse his position of power”
Policing minister Kit Malthouse said the first option a non-statutory inquiry – was much quicker to put in place but said it would not begin until the separate Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) inquiry was complete.
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