The senior Metropolitan Police detective who led the investigation into the murder of Sarah Everard has described the case as a 'monumental moment' for the force, serving as a powerful catalyst for change.
A Harrowing Case and a Royal Honour
Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin was decorated with the King's Police Medal by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, 12 November 2025. Det Supt Goodwin led the successful manhunt for Wayne Couzens, the then-serving Met officer who kidnapped, raped, and murdered the 33-year-old marketing executive over the course of 3 and 4 March 2021.
Reflecting on the investigation, she told the PA news agency that while it feels like a while ago, it was a profound event for countless officers and staff who felt 'absolutely let down' by Couzens's actions. She stated the tragedy 'really felt like a big driver for change' within the institution.
The Aftermath and Calls for Lasting Change
Wayne Couzens was handed a whole-life order for his crimes in September 2021. The case triggered widespread alarm over the vetting of officers and a culture of misogyny inside the Metropolitan Police.
These concerns were starkly validated by the 2023 Louise Casey review, which found the force to be 'institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic'.
Subsequently, the Angiolini Inquiry revealed that Couzens should never have been employed as a police officer, identifying multiple missed opportunities to stop the sexual predator. The inquiry's chairwoman, Lady Elish Angiolini, issued a grave warning that without a radical overhaul of policing practices and culture, there is 'nothing to stop another Couzens operating in plain sight'.
A Legacy of Advocacy and Remembrance
Det Supt Goodwin acknowledged that while progress has been made, 'there's still more to do'. She emphasised the collective duty to 'honour Sarah's memory' through continued action.
This sentiment is shared by Sarah Everard's parents, Jeremy and Susan Everard, who earlier this year began campaigning for tougher sentencing for serious violent and sexual criminals through a new advocacy group named Justice for Victims.
On a personal note, Detective Superintendent Goodwin described receiving the King's Police Medal as a 'humbling' experience. She paid tribute to the team effort behind her work, stating, 'It's a job that I love, and I've always tried to do my best for the public... but by lots of things it's a team work.'
