Five years after Sarah Everard was murdered by a serving Metropolitan Police officer, trust in the police remains fragile despite ongoing efforts to improve safety for women and girls. On the anniversary of her death, officials including the prime minister have paid tribute to Everard while acknowledging that more needs to be done.
Key Takeaways
Five years after Sarah Everard's murder by a Metropolitan Police officer, trust in the police remains fragile despite efforts to improve safety for women and girls. Baroness Louise Casey criticizes the Met for not doing enough since Everard's death, highlighting persistent issues with misconduct and systemic failures.
The prime minister reflected on Sarah Everard's death as a 'turning point' in tackling violence against women and girls. Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the government's commitment to halving such violence through various measures in schools, police forces, and online platforms.
Everard was abducted by Wayne Couzens on March 3, 2021, while walking home from a friend's house. She was raped and killed by Couzens, who was later sentenced to a whole-life jail term at the Old Bailey in September 2021.
The commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, acknowledged that trust issues persist following several high-profile cases of police misconduct. He emphasized efforts to root out problematic individuals and rebuild confidence in the force. Since 2022, 1,500 people have been removed from the Met for inappropriate behavior towards women among other offenses.
Baroness Louise Casey, chair of the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, criticized the Metropolitan Police for not doing enough to protect women and girls in the five years since Everard's murder. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that while progress had been made, it was not sufficient to ensure such a tragedy would never happen again.
Casey's remarks come just days after Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley acknowledged why some women still do not trust his force. Data published by the Met showed that 28 members of staff were dismissed for sexual misconduct in 2024-25, with another 39 officers who would have been sacked had they not resigned or retired.
Despite these initiatives, many women continue to alter their daily routines to feel safer. Interviews with local residents revealed that they still take precautions such as choosing well-lit routes and avoiding public transport at night. The Angiolini Inquiry highlighted the persistent issue of sexual harassment and the need for more thorough investigations into indecent exposure cases.
The Metropolitan Police has been working to improve its vetting standards and address issues related to DNA and fingerprint databases. However, progress remains slow, with nearly half of officers' DNA still missing from the force's elimination database.
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