Wayne Couzens

Wayne Couzens is a former Metropolitan Police officer who abducted, raped, and murdered Sarah Everard in March 2021. His crime sparked national outrage and a crisis of confidence in the police, particularly regarding the safety of women. Couzens' actions and the subsequent inquiry have highlighted systemic issues within policing, including failures in vetting, oversight, and the handling of misconduct allegations. He is newsworthy because reports and articles are still being published that address the failures that led to Everard's murder. Recent reports indicate that a significant number of police forces still lack basic policies for investigating sexual offences, despite promises of change following Everard's death. Furthermore, government planning proposals are being criticized for failing to address the safety of women and girls, demonstrating a continued lack of focus on issues highlighted by the Couzens case.