Met Police Chief says 'I'm so sorry' to Sarah Everard's family
Dame Cressida Dick says she’ll do anything in her power to learn lessons from the Sarah Everard case
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has said Sarah Everard’s murder has brought “shame” on the force, admitting: “A precious form of trust has been damaged.”
Dame Cressida Dick was heckled by people calling for her resignation outside the Old Bailey on Thursday after ex-Pc Wayne Couzens, 48, was handed a whole life term.
The firearms officer, who joined the Met in 2018, was sacked by the force after he pleaded guilty to 33-year-old marketing executive Ms Everard’s kidnap, rape and murder.
Dame Cressida said:
"I am absolutely horrified that this man used his position of trust to deceive and coerce Sarah and I know you all are too... what he did was unthinkable and appalling.
"He has very considerably added to the sense of insecurity that many have in our cities, perhaps particularly women. I am absolutely sickened... this man has brought shame on the Met. We have been rocked.
"I recognise that a precious bond of trust has been damaged. I will do everything in my power to ensure we learn any lessons.
"There are no words that can fully express the fury and overwhelming sadness that we all feel about what happened to Sarah. I am so sorry."
The Home Secretary said that there were serious questions that needed to be answered
Speaking at the Home Office, Priti Patel said: “There are questions, serious questions that need to be answered by the Metropolitan Police … from the very day that Sarah went missing, I have been, clearly, in contact with the Metropolitan Police and putting forward some questions around the conduct of the potential suspect at the time and all the requirements and checks that should have been put in place.”
When asked if Dame Cressida should resign, she said: “I will continue to work with the Metropolitan Police and the commissioner to hold them to account as everybody would expect me to do, and I will continue to do that.”
Describing Couzens as a “monster” and the case as “sickening” and an “appalling tragedy”, Ms Patel said: “It is right that he has been given a whole-life tariff and with that he can never walk the streets of our country again.”