Pc joined Everard murder hunt after uploading violent graphic

TWO Metropolitan Police officers will face disciplinary action over a graphic depicting violence against women, related to Sarah Everard’s murderer Wayne Couzens, that was shared on Whatsapp.

A probationary constable uploaded a “highly offensive” image to the platform that was intended to refer to the kidnap and murder of Miss Everard by a serving officer, an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IOPC) investigation found.

He was off-duty at the time, but later manned a cordon during the search for the marketing executive.

The graphic was challenged by colleagues and reported to Scotland Yard, which alerted the police watchdog.

The officer now has a case to answer for misconduct for potentially breaching standards of professional behaviour for conduct and authority, respect and courtesy and will face a misconduct panel to answer the allegations. A second Met probationary constable allegedly shared the graphic and failed to challenge it. He will also appear before a misconduct hearing.

A third officer did not have a case to answer, the IOPC found, after forwarding the image to two people seeking their advice on how to deal with the situation.

A separate investigation concluded that three officers – one from each of the Sussex, Dorset and Avon and Somerset forces – will face disciplinary action for using the Signal messaging platform to share information connected to Couzens’ prosecution.

It is alleged that on Mar 13 – several months before Couzens admitted murdering Miss Everard, 33 – a Dorset Police officer posted details of an interview given by the murderer.

The IOPC concluded that the officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct. The watchdog also found that officers from other forces had joined in the conversation, endorsing comments made by others and making unprofessional remarks about Couzens.

“In relation to this we found that two officers, from Sussex Police and Avon and Somerset Constabulary, had a case to answer for misconduct for alleged breaches of professional standards of behaviour for conduct, authority, respect and courtesy; and in the case of the Sussex officer standards for challenging and reporting improper behaviour,” the IOPC said.

The Sussex officer was cleared of misconduct this week and the Avon and Somerset Constabulary officer will be asked to appear before a misconduct meeting in due course.

The ‘highly offensive’ image referred to Wayne Couzens, the officer who admitted killing the 33-year-old