Met chief says remains found in search for missing Sarah

Human remains have been discovered in the hunt for missing Sarah Everard, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has said.

The discovery was made in an area of woodland in Ashford in Kent.

“We have found very sadly what appears to be human remains,” she said.

Ms Dick said: “At this early stage we are not able to confirm any identity and that may take us some considerable time.

“Specialist officers have been with Sarah’s family to update them on the investigation and continue to give them the best support possible.”

The Met Police announced earlier yesterday that a diplomatic protection officer held over the disappearance of Ms Everard had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

They said the man, who is in his 40s and is part of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was being questioned over suspected kidnap and murder.

A woman in her 30s was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Ms Dick said: “The news today that it was a Metropolitan Police officer who was arrested on suspicion of Sarah’s murder has sent shockwaves and anger through the public and through the Met.

“I speak on behalf of all my colleagues when I say that we are utterly appalled at this dreadful, dreadful news.”

Marketing executive Ms Everard vanished while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on Wednesday, March 3.

The police searches in Kent saw a tent erected at the front of a house in Deal, where multiple cars were taken away by investigators. Later, a metal fence was put up surrounding the front garden and driveway.

Matt Mullan, 29, who lives nearby, said: “Last night there were police cars outside all night. I thought this is a bit strange, not normal for round here.”

Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave spoke of the torment Ms Everard’s family must be facing.

He said: “As a father myself, of four young women, I can only imagine the anguish that Sarah’s family are feeling.”

Ms Everard is thought to have walked through Clapham Common towards her house in Brixton – a journey which should have taken around 50 minutes.

She was last captured on a doorbell camera walking along the A205 Poynders Road towards Tulse Hill.

THE Duchess of Sussex formally complained to ITV about Piers Morgan before the Good Morning Britain co-host quit, the PA news agency understands.

Morgan left the breakfast show after an on-air row with a colleague who criticised him for “continuing to trash” the duchess, after earlier this week saying he “didn’t believe a word” of Meghan’s Oprah Winfrey interview.

PA understands the duchess’ concern was not about the personal attacks on the validity of her racism allegation made against the royal family, or her claims she was not supported by the institution when experiencing suicidal thoughts.

The complaint is understood to focus on how Morgan’s comments may affect the issue of mental health generally and those attempting to deal with their own problems.

ITV bosses had asked Morgan to apologise to the duchess during Tuesday’s show but he refused, the Telegraph reported.

The development follows Buckingham Palace’s statement, saying that the issues raised in Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview, especially over race, were “concerning” and would be addressed by the Queen and her family privately.

The royal family said it was taking “very seriously” the couple’s shocking allegation that a member of the family – not the Queen or Duke of Edinburgh – raised concerns about how dark their son Archie’s skin tone might be before he was born.

The royals appear to be at odds over the version of some events described by the Sussexes as the statement highlighted how “some recollections may vary”.

But the sympathetic tone of a Palace statement suggests a reconciliation through dialogue in private is the aim.

Asked to respond to Buckingham Palace’s statement about the interview, a spokesman for the Sussexes said they would not be commenting any further.

Morgan criticised Meghan as he co-hosted Monday’s Good Morning Britain show, and after a clip aired of the duchess discussing her struggles with mental health and the monarchy’s knowledge of them, he said: “I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she says. I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report.”

Morgan walked off the set on Tuesday after an onair clash with his colleague, Alex Beresford.

Speaking outside his London home, Morgan repeated his comments about the duchess: “If I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestlyheld opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it.”

Mind, a leading mental health charity, led the way in criticising his comments.

It said in a tweet it was “disappointed and concerned to see Morgan’s comments on not believing Meghan’s experiences about suicidal thoughts”.

The charity added: “It’s vital that, when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health, they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy.”

Morgan faces an Ofcom investigation after the regulator received 41,000 complaints following his comments on Monday.

APPEAL: Street posters on Poynders Road asking for information about Sarah Everard.

UNREPENTANT: Piers Morgan speaks to the press who had gathered outside his London home yesterday.