ON DUTY
Sarah Everard suspect Wayne Couzens kept working as cop for days after ‘indecent exposure’ report as watchdog probes Met
THE cop being quizzed over the suspected murder and kidnap of Sarah Everard kept working days after an indecent exposure report, it has been claimed today.
The police watchdog is now investigating whether officers responded "appropriately" to a report of indecent exposure linked to 48-year-old Wayne Couzens.
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It has been claimed police failed to act and arrest Couzens over the accusation of indecent exposure at fast food take away in South London on February 28.
It meant he was still working as a gun cop for three days and free to allegedly snatch 33-year-old Sarah on March 3.
The marketing executive was walking home from Clapham on Wednesday last week when she vanished.
The apparent police blunder over the alleged indecent exposure emerged after Couzens was found unconscious in custody with a “serious” head injury and taken to hospital yesterday.
It comes as...
- Sarah Everard disappeared while walking home to Brixton from Clapham last week
- Sarah's family said the 33-year-old was a ";kind and beautiful" woman
- Remains were found in Ashford, Kent, during the hunt for the marketing executive
- Wayne Couzens, 48, was taken to hospital with head injuries after being taken into custody
- Organisers of a vigil for Sarah Everard have been left furious after the Met Police threatened them with fines under Covid rules
- CCTV from a London bus has helped cops in their investigations, it was reported
His condition later improved and following treatment and a brain scan Couzens was later returned to custody.
The police watchdog last night announced they are investigating the Met Police over the injury sustained by Couzens.
There is no suggestion anyone else was involved in the incident.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct also announced they are investigating the Met over the apparent failure to act on the indecent exposure report.
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A man is alleged to have exposed himself to female staff at the take away on February 28.
The incident is said to have been captured on CCTV.
Staff reported it to police on the night. However, no action was taken in connection over the alleged incident.
Had he been arrested over the allegation, Couzens would automatically have had his “blue ticket” firearm licence revoked and suspended from duty.
Did you see what happened in the takeaway or have any information? Call The Sun on 020 7782 4100 or email [email protected].
Former Met detective chief inspector Mick Neville said: "He would have been suspended from duty and would have been at home."
The Times today revealed Couzens had joined the Met in 2018 after transferring from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
He had worked at one of the most sensitive sites in the country at Dungeness.
While with the Met, he worked with the parliamentary and diplomatic unit - protecting sensitives sites including the Houses of Parliament while also patrolling the US embassy.
The US Embassy last night would not comment on the claims around Couzens' work, saying: "We were shocked and saddened to hear the news of Sarah Everard's disappearance.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this difficult time."
In a statement, the IOPC said: "The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has started an independent investigation into whether Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers responded appropriately to a report of indecent exposure.
"The IOPC’s investigation follows a conduct referral from the MPS in relation to two officers, received last night, which is linked to four other referrals.
"They are all connected to the arrest of a serving MPS officer on suspicion of kidnap, murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
"Our investigation will look at the actions of the MPS after police received a report on 28 February that a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in South London."
The Met Police last night said they were "offering every assistance to the IOPC".
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Couzens was arrested on Tuesday night - six days after Sarah vanished as she walked home in Clapham, South West London.
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