Systematic failures enabled Wayne Couzens to remain in police despite evident risks

The tragic case of Sarah Everard, who fell victim to the heinous crimes of Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, has unveiled a disturbing series of missed warnings and systemic failures across multiple police forces. The Angiolini Inquiry, led by Lady Elish Angiolini, exposed 11 ‘red flags’ about Couzens that were overlooked, allowing him to continue his career in law enforcement despite his history as a serial sex offender and his significant debt issues.

Over the course of nearly 20 years, Couzens’ problematic behaviour, including a preference for extreme violent pornography and alleged sexual offences, went unchecked. Astonishingly, he was able to navigate through police vetting processes, with the inquiry highlighting that there’s nothing in the current system to prevent individuals like Couzens from slipping through the cracks again.

Sarah Everard’s family poignantly noted that her fate was sealed by the fact that Couzens was a police officer, a position that he exploited to commit his crimes. The inquiry identified instances dating back to when Couzens was in his early 20s, including a severe accusation of sexually assaulting a child and other victims who had not reported sexual crimes to the police, fearing there might be more unreported cases.

Lady Angiolini’s report criticises the failures in recruitment, vetting, and investigations into allegations of indecent exposure, which allowed Couzens to serve in three different police forces. His ability to manipulate his public persona and hide his debts and deviant interests from the vetting process were key factors in his continued employment within the police.

The inquiry’s findings are a damning indictment of the current state of police vetting and culture, which failed to identify and mitigate the risk Couzens posed. It calls for an urgent and comprehensive overhaul of the vetting process and police culture to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The list of missed red flags includes allegations of sexual assault, a predilection for violent pornography, failures in investigating indecent exposure claims, falsified information about military service, unmanaged debt, and a narrow circle of acquaintances with whom Couzens shared misogynistic views.

This case has sparked outrage and a demand for immediate reform to ensure that the police force can be trusted to protect the public, rather than harbour potential predators. The Angiolini Inquiry’s recommendations aim to address these critical failings, but the road ahead is long, and the need for change is urgent.