Wayne Couzens' Murder of Sarah Everard Ignited Serious Trust Issues with Met Police, Chief admits

The Metropolitan Police is bound by duty to serve and protect civilians. However, a 2021 incident involving one of their constables has cast doubts on whether law enforcement can still be trusted.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Sarah Everard, the 33-year-old woman who was kidnapped, raped and strangled to death by a constable named Wayne Couzens. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley is very familiar with that case and understands why women are still unsure whether police officers can still be trusted.

Rowley admits that it will take time before they can regain the trust of civilians. A good step toward that direction is weeding out the dirty cops to avoid similar future Sarah Everard incidents.

'I can give the reassurance that we're doing everything possible to avoid people who are a risk to anybody – women and children or otherwise – joining the organisation or staying in this organisation,' Rowley stated in a report by BBC News.

Only Time Can Tell

Going by the numbers shared by Rowley, the Met chief revealed that about 1,500 people have been dismissed and are no longer with the force. He added that most of the cops relieved are the ones who show inappropriate behaviour towards women.

'It's an incredibly awful truth that we have abusers and perpetrators inside our organisation,' Helen Millichap, Met Police deputy commissioner, admitted in a report by Sky News. She is also the national police lead for Violence Against Women and Girls.

Despite the widespread investigation bent on identifying and taking out cops with abusive intentions, women will remain haunted by the harrowing plight of Everard.

At the time of the incident, Everard stopped by a store to pick up a bottle of wine on her way to a friend's house, crossing paths with Couzens, who was off-duty at the time. The constable would bring the 33-year-old to Kent, where he raped and strangled Sarah before disposing of her body in a pond.

For most, Sarah did nothing different that night. Some suggest that if not her, it could have been someone else. Hence, that thought alone has led most women to become more alert and cautious of their surroundings – including the presence of law enforcement.

Bright Future Scorned

For Sarah, no one knew her better than her mother, Susan Everard. Remembering her daughter, she wrote a piece for British Vogue, detailing who the 33-year-old was as a person.
'She was interested in the world around her and made the most of life. There was a depth to her, she led her life with decency and integrity,' Everard shared in another BBC report. 'I miss the goodness of Sarah: she was thoughtful and dependable and highly principled.'

Sarah undeniably had a promising future and a good heart. She had already graduated and had planned to go on adventures. She had a wide network of friends, most dear to her.

Sarah Everard had a bright future ahead of her. Unfortunately, that fateful night and encounter with Couzens dashed all her dreams and plans instantly.

For the Met Police, the case of Sarah Everard will forever haunt them. Time will heal wounds. However, accountability and winning the trust of civilians back are all up to the Metropolitan Police.