Avon and Somerset Police officer facing misconduct charge over comments related to Sarah Everard
An investigation has found they made inappropriate comments about her killer on a group chat
Last updated 22nd Oct 2021
An officer from Avon and Somerset Police is one of five officers facing disciplinary action after sharing messages about Sarah Everard's killer.
The others are from the Metropolitan, Sussex, and Dorset forces.
It all follows two separate investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
In the first investigation, following a referral from the Metropolitan Police Service in March this year, the IOPC investigated allegations that a probationary constable used WhatApp to share an inappropriate graphic, depicting violence against women.
The investigation found the graphic was intended as a reference to the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens.
The officer in question was off duty when the message was sent but later went on to staff a cordon as part of the search for Sarah.
The graphic was challenged by colleagues, reported internally and the officer will now face a misconduct meeting to answer the allegations.
Another probationary constable will also face a misconduct meeting for sharing the graphic and failing to challenge it.
The Avon and Somerset officer's case relates to another investigation looking at the conduct of seven officers from various forces, who allegedly breached standards of professional behaviour when they used the Signal messaging platform to share information connected to Couzens’ prosecution.
It was alleged that on 13 March an officer from Dorset Police posted details of an interview given by Couzens under caution which were presented during a non-reportable court hearing.
That was several months before Couzens admitted murdering Ms Everard.
That officer now faces a gross misconduct charge after the IOPC looked at whether the messages, had they got into the public domain, would have brought discredit on the police service and potentially interfered with the course of justice.
Evidence gathered during a six month investigation found officers from other forces including the one from Avon and Somerset had joined in the conversation, endorsing comments made by others and making unprofessional remarks about Couzens.
The Avon and Somerset officer and another from Sussex Police both were found to have cases to answer for misconduct for alleged breaches of professional standards of behaviour for conduct, authority, respect and courtesy.
At a meeting held this week for the Sussex officer misconduct was not proven.
IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem said: “In April this year we warned about the unacceptable use of social media by officers based on a number of cases involving the posting of offensive and inappropriate material.
“We wrote to the National Police Chiefs Council, asking them to remind forces and officers of their obligations under the police Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Behaviour.
“The allegations involved in these two investigations, if proven, have the capacity to further undermine public confidence in policing.
"They also once more illustrate the potential consequences for officers and come at a time when policing standards and culture have never been more firmly in the spotlight.”
The IOPC is continuing to investigate the conduct of five officers from three forces and one former officer who allegedly sent discriminatory messages as part of a WhatsApp group between March and October 2019.
The messages were recovered from an old mobile phone discovered during the police investigation into Ms Everard’s murder.
Other ongoing investigations are looking at how Kent Police in 2015, and the MPS in 2021, handled allegations of indecent exposure now linked to Couzens.
Both investigations are considering whether policies and procedures were followed, and if any issues identified may have impacted on the vetting of the former officer who is now serving a life sentence for his crimes.
In a statement sent to us Avon and Somerset Police say the officer in question will attend a misconduct hearing on 16 November.
"The meeting follows an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into social media messages about former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens," they say.
"It is alleged the officer, who was seconded elsewhere at the time, endorsed comments made by others and made unprofessional remarks about Couzens on the Signal messaging platform.
"It would be inappropriate to comment further until the misconduct meeting has taken place."