Met Police Chief Hails Sarah Everard Family's Dignity on Fifth Murder Anniversary
Britain's most senior police officer has publicly honoured the extraordinary dignity in the face of unbearable grief demonstrated by the family of Sarah Everard, marking five years since her brutal murder. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the 33-year-old's killing as a profound betrayal that continues to resonate throughout British policing.
A Profound Betrayal of Trust
Sarah Everard was raped and murdered on March 3, 2021, by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, who deceived her into believing she could be arrested for violating Covid lockdown rules as she walked home from a friend's house in south London. In a formal statement issued by the force, Sir Mark Rowley declared: "Sarah Everard should still be here. Five years have passed since her senseless and devastating murder. What happened to her was a profound betrayal: of her, of her family and loved ones, and of every person who places their trust in policing."
The Commissioner emphasized that the fact a serving police officer committed this crime remains as devastating today as it was in 2021, representing what he called "an unthinkable abuse of power and a total violation of the values that the Met, and policing stands for." He acknowledged the incident "shook policing to its core" and expressed ongoing sorrow for the "unimaginable harm done to Sarah" and the "profound damage inflicted on the trust Londoners should be able to place in their police service."
Systemic Failures and Institutional Reforms
Couzens received a whole-life jail term following his Old Bailey trial in September 2021. The powerful victim impact statement delivered by Ms Everard's mother subsequently helped expose another predator within the Metropolitan Police ranks, leading to the conviction of serial rapist David Carrick after one of his victims came forward.
These cases prompted two damning reviews of police conduct and culture:
- The March 2023 report by Baroness Louise Casey found the Metropolitan Police to be institutionally racist, misogynistic, and homophobic
- The February 2024 inquiry by Dame Elish Angiolini concluded that the Met and two other police forces could and should have prevented Couzens from becoming a police officer
Sir Mark has spearheaded efforts to reform the Metropolitan Police, with approximately 1,500 officers and staff having been dismissed, resigned, or retired over the past three years. However, he warned in September 2025 that "toxic or corrupt networks or cliques" resistant to change might still exist within the force, following undercover reporting at Charing Cross police station that revealed allegations of excessive force and discriminatory comments.
National Reset on Violence Against Women
The Commissioner stated that this tragic case highlighted the urgent need for "a national reset in how policing, and society more widely, prioritises tackling violence against women and girls." He acknowledged that "far too many remain victim‑survivors and still do not feel safe" and described the anniversary as "more than symbolic" but rather "a reminder of our duty to the millions of women and girls who move through London every day with a right to feel protected, not fearful; respected, not dismissed; believed, not doubted."
Sir Mark emphasized: "We know we have not always lived up to that responsibility and must continue to repair the damage inflicted on the trust of women and girls in policing. I don't just see this as an operational priority – it is also a moral one, and one I am fiercely committed to."
Political Responses and Ongoing Challenges
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan acknowledged that "much more work remains to be done" to ensure women and girls feel secure throughout the capital. He stated: "Sarah's murder by a serving police officer shocked and horrified the entire country and rightly sparked an outcry about the national epidemic of violence against women and girls. In London, we are targeting the worst perpetrators of violence against women and girls, doubling down on standards within the Met and working to tackle toxic misogyny in our society."
However, Mayor Khan conceded: "But we still have much more work to do to ensure women and girls feel safe and are safe in our city – wherever they are, whatever time of day or night. As Mayor, I am determined to do everything in my power to help end violence against women and girls as we continue to build a safer London for everyone."
Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, added: "Five years on from Sarah Everard's tragic murder, my thoughts today are with her family and all those who loved her. I will do everything I can to ensure women and girls can live free from fear and harm – something Sarah was so cruelly denied."
