Ex-lord Advocate to chair independent inquiry into abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving police officer
Scotland’s former top law officer has been appoint as chair of an independent inquiry into the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Metropolitan Police officer.
The Home Secretary, Priti Patel said ex-lord Advocate
Dame Elish Angiolini QC will be given greater powers if she feels unable to fulfil her remit for the two-part inquiry.
Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens used his police issue handcuffs and warrant card to stage a fake arrest so he could kidnap 33-year-old Ms Everard before he raped and murdered her earlier this year.
The first part of the inquiry will establish a comprehensive account of Couzens’ conduct throughout his career in policing, including looking for whether any red flags were missed and whether allegations made against him were properly handled.
It will draw on ongoing investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary
and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
The second part of the inquiry will look at specific issues raised by part one, which will report to the Home Secretary as soon as possible.
Ms Patel, who branded Couzens a “monster”, said the inquiry will proceed on a nonstatutory basis in a bid to give Ms Everard’s family “closure as quickly as possible”.
She added to MPS: “Statutory inquiries can be long-running with limited flexibility, sometimes recommendations are notmadeforanumberofyears.
“However, I will not rule out converting this onto a statutory footing should Dame Elish feel that she’s unable to fulfil the terms of reference on a non-statutory basis.
“Sarah Everard’s life was ended too early by an evil man whose job it was to protect her.
“We owe it to her and her loved ones and her family to prevent something like this from ever happening again.”
Dame Elish said: “I am deeply honoured to have been asked to chair this vital inquiry, which comes at a pivotal moment for policing.
“The murder of Sarah Everard was profoundly shocking and I will ensure that the issues raised from this dreadful tragedy are fully investigated and the necessary lessons learned.”