Patel launches inquiry into Met failures after Couzens scandal
PRITI PATEL has started an independent inquiry into the “unimaginable failures” that allowed Wayne Couzens to become and remain a Met police officer before raping and killing Sarah Everard.
The Home Secretary said that people needed to know why Couzens, whose name she refused to say, was able to commit such an “unconscionable crime” and what lessons had to be learnt to ensure it “can never happen again”.
The first part, which is expected to report within six months, will investigate why he was able to join the Met Police despite being linked to indecent exposure and being known as “the rapist” by colleagues at his previous force, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC).
It will also investigate missed opportunities, his predatory behaviour, including a further alleged indecent exposure at a Mcdonald’s two days before Miss Everard’s death, and any “boys’ club” culture at Scotland Yard that prevented colleagues from blowing the whistle. The second part will cover changes that may be needed in vetting practices, professional standards, discipline and workplace behaviour.
It will be a non-statutory public inquiry, meaning its chair, likely to be a judge or senior QC, will not have powers to compel witnesses to attend hearings or get full access to documents. Labour peers have tabled an amendment to the Government’s crime bill seeking to make it statutory over fears that it could be obstructed by Scotland Yard. Ministers are worried that if it was statutory Couzens could credibly ask to be made a “core participant”, giving him a right to appear before the inquiry and access to evidence. Sources said it could still be made statutory if required.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Ms Patel said: “Recent tragic events have exposed unimaginable failures in policing. It is abhorrent that a serving police officer was able to abuse his position of power, authority and trust to commit such a horrific crime. The public have a right to know what failures enabled his continued employment as a police officer and an inquiry will give the independent oversight needed to ensure something like this can never happen again. We need answers.”
She added: “Sarah Everard’s murderer, whose name I will not repeat, was a monster. His explicit intention was to instil fear and terror in women and girls. Such unconscionable crimes and acts of violence against women and girls have no place in our society.”
Ms Patel has also asked the police regulator to investigate forces’ vetting, anti-corruption procedures and ability to detect and deal with misogynistic and predatory behaviour. She wants initial findings by the end of the year.
The moves reflect growing tensions between Ms Patel and Dame Cressida Dick, the Met commissioner, who on Monday announced her own review into the culture and standards at the Met.
Before the announcement Ms Patel said she was unhappy with “what’s going wrong in policing in London” where all the key statistics on crime and misconduct were “going in the wrong direction”. “This is all about raising the bar, raising standards,” she said.
Dame Cressida said she recognised the need for the public to see the “full details”. “We will work closely with the inquiry team and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate to provide every support to them,” she said.
‘It is abhorrent that a serving police officer was able to abuse his position of power and trust to commit such a horrific crime’