Wayne Couzens Could Still Receive £7,000 Annual Pension Despite Life Sentence
Wayne Couzens, the former police officer serving a whole life order for the murder of Sarah Everard, is still in line to receive a taxpayer-funded pension worth approximately £7,000 per year from his time with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC). This includes a tax-free lump sum of around £20,000, which he could access from next year when he reaches retirement age.
Legal Battle Over Pension Forfeiture
Government lawyers have been engaged in a protracted legal battle to strip Couzens of his CNC pension, but no final decision has been made. The complexity arises because Couzens committed his crimes after leaving the CNC to join the Metropolitan Police. Public sector pensions can only be forfeited under limited circumstances, typically requiring an offence connected to the employment in question.
In March 2021, while serving as a Met officer, Couzens used his police warrant to falsely arrest Sarah Everard as she walked home, leading to her abduction, rape, and murder. The case shocked the nation and prompted widespread outrage.
Efforts to Revoke Pension Entitlements
In 2023, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan successfully applied to then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman to forfeit any pension payments Couzens would have earned during his Metropolitan Police service. Similarly, the CNC recommended in October 2021 that his pension from their force be revoked, a position supported by Sir Sadiq in an April 2023 letter to then-Energy Secretary Grant Shapps.
However, current Energy Secretary Ed Miliband would need to approve a certificate of forfeiture, but legal hurdles persist. The rules of the UK Atomic Energy Agency state that forfeiture is justified only for "an offence in connection with any employment to which this scheme applies," creating a loophole since Couzens's crimes occurred after his CNC tenure.
Public and Advocacy Reactions
Andrea Simon, of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, described the situation as "unthinkable," arguing that a perpetrator of such horrific violence against women should not retain his retirement fund. She urged that steps be taken to strip Couzens of his CNC pension, similar to the forfeiture of his Met Police benefits, and called for any loopholes allowing convicted murderers to keep pensions to be closed.
Simon Chesterman, Chief Constable of the CNC, clarified that the CNC is not the pensions authority for Couzens's scheme but confirmed they formally recommended forfeiture after his 2021 conviction. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman stated they are "looking at options to ensure Wayne Couzens does not receive his Civil Nuclear Constabulary pension."
Historical Context of Pension Forfeitures
Forfeiture of public sector pensions is rare; since the 1970s, only 33 NHS workers have lost their pensions, including serial killer Harold Shipman. This highlights the stringent criteria and legal challenges involved in revoking such entitlements, even in cases of severe criminal conduct.
Couzens worked at the CNC, which protects nuclear sites and materials in England and Scotland, for over seven years before joining the Metropolitan Police. His case continues to raise questions about pension regulations and justice for victims of violent crimes.
