Sadiq Khan says Couzens may not have murdered Sarah Everard if he was ‘properly investigated’

The mayor of London suggested Wayne Couzens ‘may not have’ killed Sarah Everard if something was done about allegations against him before her murder.

Killer Metropolitan Police officer Couzens, 50, is already serving a whole life sentence for abducting Sarah as she walked home before raping and strangling her in March 2021.

He has today been sentenced to another 19 months in jail for exposing himself to women three times before he murdered.

The hearing also revealed new details of Couzens’ offending which raised further questions over whether police missed chances to stop him before he murdered 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah.

Talking to Metro.co.uk at City Hall’s first Women’s Summit, Sadiq Khan accepted Sarah ‘may not have been murdered’ if the allegations for indecent assault were ‘properly investigated’ by the Met. 

Mr Khan once again pointed to ‘systemic issues’ within policing, with one prominent example being the handling of the Couzens’ case. 

He said: ‘We’re seeing today with the Wayne Couzens case, an example of a man where an allegation was made of indecent exposure and nothing appears to have happened. 

‘That doesn’t bring confidence [for women].’

He went on to add what measures the Met Police are now taking to stop this from happening again.

Just last month serial rapist firearms officer David Carrick was jailed for life for ‘using and abusing’ his role to take ‘monstrous advantage’ of 12 vulnerable victims over two decades.

Mr Khan said: ‘What we’re trying to say to everyone in London, women in particular, is we’ve got a new commissioner, new deputy commissioner, they accept that there are systemic cultural issues and are determined to win back trust and confidence. 

‘They’re looking back 10 years in relation to allegations made against police officers – sexual offences. 

‘They’ve got a zero tolerance towards these issues and they’ve promised to look into every allegation made of indecent exposure properly, because who knows, had Couzens been properly investigated, and action taken, he may not have gone on and done what he did to Sarah Everard.’

It comes as Mr Khan today has written to the government to urge sector-leading provisions for colleagues fleeing domestic abuse.

This includes an interest-free loan of up to £10,000 to help rebuild their lives, which is available at City Hall. 

In a letter to work and pensions secretary Mel Stride, the mayor has urged the government to ensure taxpayer-funded Government bodies are taking their responsibilities to women colleagues seriously and are inclusive and supportive at every level. 

Mr Khan also told Metro.co.uk: ‘In relation to those who work for us in City Hall, what we’ve said to women is there is a scheme available. If you’re suffering domestic abuse or domestic violence, we’re offering financial support as well as other support, and we’re trying to persuade the government to do the same. 

‘At the same time, you’ve got to recognise that if you’re a woman, you’re feeling scared. Why are you feeling scared? Because every three days across our country, a woman’s being killed at the hands of a man. 

‘We’ve shown now because of work we’ve done that there are culturally systemic issues within policing in our city.’

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