Baroness Casey Criticizes Police Efforts Since Sarah Everard Murder
The Metropolitan Police has not done enough to protect women and girls in the five years since the murder of Sarah Everard, Baroness Louise Casey has stated.
Everard, aged 33, was walking home in south London when she was abducted, raped, and murdered by Wayne Couzens, who was at the time a serving police officer.
Baroness Casey, chair of the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that although some progress had been made, the police were not examining themselves thoroughly enough to prevent a tragedy like Everard's murder from recurring.
Her comments come shortly after Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley acknowledged why some women continue to distrust the force.
Following Everard's murder, Baroness Casey was commissioned to chair a report into the Met Police's conduct. The report revealed that hundreds of officers had evaded consequences for breaking the law or engaging in misconduct. It also found that many complaints of sexual misconduct, misogyny, racism, and homophobia were poorly handled.
When asked by Emma Barnett about the progress made by the police since Everard's murder in 2021, Baroness Casey paused before responding:
"Progress has been made, do I think it's enough, do I think as a country we are still taking women facing violence seriously enough and are we looking at how the police look at themselves thoroughly enough to make sure it never happens again?"
Met Police Chief Acknowledges Trust Issues
In an interview marking the fifth anniversary of Everard's murder, Sir Mark Rowley said that "several ghastly cases of police officers committing awful offences against women" inevitably impact public trust in the Metropolitan Police.
He emphasized that more women were reporting allegations but acknowledged that rebuilding trust in London would require time.
Data published by the Met indicates that 28 members of staff were dismissed for sexual misconduct in 2024-25, while another 39 officers would have been dismissed had they not resigned or retired during the same period.
Baroness Casey's Review Highlights Systemic Failures
Baroness Casey's year-long review condemned systemic failures within the Met, illustrating a force where rape cases were dropped due to a freezer containing key evidence malfunctioning.
Following the report's publication, she stated that a "boys' club" culture was pervasive and warned the force could be dismantled if improvements were not made.
Sir Mark Rowley, who succeeded Dame Cressida Dick as commissioner in September 2022, admitted at the time that the force had "let Londoners down."
'I Miss the Goodness of Sarah'
Sarah Everard's mother, Susan Everard, wrote a tribute for British Vogue this week, recalling her daughter's love of travel, dancing, sense of humour, and principled nature.
"She was interested in the world around her and made the most of life. There was a depth to her, she led her life with decency and integrity,"Susan Everard wrote.
"I miss the goodness of Sarah: she was thoughtful and dependable and highly principled."
On 3 March 2021, Everard was walking home in south London when she was abducted by Wayne Couzens, then a serving police officer. He drove her to Kent where he raped and murdered her. Couzens was later sentenced to a whole-life term for her murder.
The killing sparked outrage and widespread concern among women about their safety when alone in public.
Hundreds gathered on London's Clapham Common to lay flowers and pay respects to Everard, including the then Duchess of Cambridge.
Later that evening, officers handcuffed and removed several women, leading to widespread criticism of the Met Police for its handling of the vigil, which occurred during Covid-19 restrictions.
