By SCM REPORTER
MET POLICE boss Sir Mark Rowley today admitted the force is still haunted by the “monstrous” murder of Sarah Everard as the capital marks five years since her death.
In a raw and emotional statement, the Commissioner confessed that the betrayal of trust caused by killer cop Wayne Couzens remains “as devastating today as it was in 2021.”
Sarah, 33, was snatched off the streets of South London by serving officer Couzens on March 3, 2021, in a crime that shocked the nation and triggered a massive overhaul of British policing.
Sir Mark, who took the top job a year after the tragedy, didn’t hold back on the “catastrophic systemic failings” that allowed a predator to hide behind a badge.
”Sarah Everard should still be here,” Sir Mark said. “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.”
He described the “unthinkable abuse of power” by Couzens—who is serving a whole-life sentence—as a crime that left decent officers “furious.”
Since the horror of 2021, the Met has launched the biggest “integrity reset” in its history:
1,500: Officers and staff axed in just three years.
DOUBLE: The rate of vetting failures as standards are toughened.
10 YEARS: A decade of sex abuse and domestic violence claims against staff re-examined.
While the Met Chief pointed to the 1,500 staff removed from the force, he admitted there is still a long way to go to make London’s streets feel safe for women.
”This anniversary is more than symbolic,” Sir Mark insisted. “It is 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.”
He vowed that tackling violence against women is no longer just a police “operation” but a “moral priority.”
He added: “We will always be deeply sorry for the unimaginable harm done to Sarah and the trauma endured by her family.”