Policing chief welcomes review into ‘systematic failures’ that allowed Wayne Couzens into Met Police
Senior policing chief welcomes Government’s independent inquiry into ‘systematic failures’ that allowed Sarah Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens to be employed as a police officer, as Sadiq Khan urges reviewers to ‘leave no stone uncovered’
Priti Patel announced at Tory conference in Manchester an independent inquiry into murder of Sarah Everard Home Secretary said the murder of Ms Everard by Wayne Couzens ‘exposed unimaginable failures in policing’ Independent probe will look at any ‘systematic failures’ that allowed Wayne Couzens to serve as Met officer Ms Patel also announced tough laws to stop protesters disrupting the UK’s critical national infrastructure Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), today welcomed news of the reviewMr Hewitt said it was ‘critical’ to ‘deal with’ issues surrounding vetting and professional standards in policing
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
A senior policing chief has today welcomed the Government’s plan to launch an inquiry in the wake of Sarah Everard‘s murder.
Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), said it was ‘critical’ to ‘deal with’ issues surrounding vetting and professional standards proceedings in policing.
It comes after Priti Patel announced plans for an independent inquiry to look at the ‘systematic failures’ that allowed her killer Wayne Couzens to be employed as a police officer with the Met Police.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also backed the review, urging that the inquiry must ‘leave no stone uncovered’.
Welcoming the review, Mr Hewitt – whose NPCC group are the national co-ordination body for law enforcement – said: ‘Whilst I have confidence in the processes that we have, the reality is that there are clearly issues that emerge from this specific case.
‘So I think it warrants us looking again and working with those other bodies to ensure that we are learning every lesson that we can around not only the policies, but also the practice of how that vetting is taking place in individual forces.
‘Both of those areas (of vetting and professional standards) are absolutely critical for us to deal with … to restore public confidence in the service.
‘And I think having an independent inquiry is a very good way for that to be to be dealt with to really help us provide that reassurance.’
Mr Hewitt said there there were already ‘very clear’ vetting policies which are continually reviewed, with checks on officers throughout their career, along with professional standards procedures.
But he added: ‘The confidence of the public is absolutely paramount, that people recognise and understand that we are doing things properly because of the powers that we have as police officers, but also it’s about the confidence of the service.’
It comes as Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said today that the inquiry must ‘leave no stone uncovered’. Mr Khan, who supported the investigation, said confidence in the police had been ‘shattered’ and he hoped it ‘leads to the conclusions that leads to people having more confidence than they currently do’.
Mr Khan said: ‘Over the last few days I have been in almost daily contact with the Home Secretary and shared with her my concerns in relation to the fact that people across the country have had their confidence shattered in the police and I welcome her announcement today.
Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), said it was ‘critical’ to ‘deal with’ issues surrounding vetting and professional standards proceedings in policing. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said today that the inquiry must ‘leave no stone uncovered’.
It comes after Priti Patel announced plans for an independent inquiry to look at the ‘systematic failures’ at the Met Police (pictured: Commissioner Cressida Dick) that allowed her killer Wayne Couzens to be employed as a police officer
‘We’ve got to make sure no stone is left uncovered in relation to finding out what happened in relation to this man and in relation to allegations made against his previous conduct, in relation to how the vetting process failed, in relation to missed opportunities to make sure lessons are learnt.
‘We then need to look into wider issues for policing across the country.
‘There are serious concerns in relation to the vetting practices for police forces across the country, serious concerns in relation to grievances and discipline but also in relation to the workplace environment.
‘A police service must have no truck in relation to misogyny, racism, sexism, or homophobia and we need to make sure we do what we can to restore the confidence that’s been lost over the last few weeks.’
He stopped short of backing under fire Met Police chief Cressida Dick, who has faced a swathe of criticism in the wake of the Sarah Everard case.
When asked if he thought Dame Cressida was the right person to take the force forward, he said: ‘I think when you read and hear about some of the concerns people have raised across the country, when you just reflect on the fact that between International Women’s Day last year and International Women’s Day this year, across the country 118 women were killed at the hands of a man, I think this is about more than one person.
‘This is about looking into what went on with this particular man and Sarah’s brutal murder, but also wider issues in relation to policing across the country.’
It come as Ms Patel today announced there will be an independent inquiry into the ‘systematic failures’ that allowed Couzens to serve as a Met police officer and murder Ms Everard.
The Home Secretary said that ‘recent tragic events have exposed unimaginable failures in policing’.
She said that the public ‘have a right to know’ why Couzens was able to be employed by the Metropolitan Police.
Addressing the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Ms Patel said: ‘I can confirm today, there will be an inquiry, to give the independent oversight needed, to ensure something like this can never happen again.’
The inquiry will look at Couzens’ career in the Metropolitan Police and determine if red flags were missed to identify him as a threat.
The probe is likely to be viewed as a warning shot at Met chief Cressida Dick who has faced calls to quit following the murder of Ms Everard.
Ms Patel also used her speech in Manchester to announce tough new laws to stop protesters disrupting critical national infrastructure and plans to expand drug testing on arrest.
Metropolitan Police firearms officer Couzens 48, was handed a whole life sentence at the Old Bailey last week for murdering Ms Everard.
Ms Everard, 33, was walking home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London, on the evening of March 3 when she was kidnapped, raped and murdered by Couzens.
Ms Patel said: ‘This Government will always back the brave men and women of our police.
‘And it is because of our strong relationship with the police, that I can ask the difficult questions and support them to do better.
‘Recent tragic events have exposed unimaginable failures in policing. It is abhorrent that a serving police officer was able to abuse his position of power, authority and trust to commit such a horrific crime.
Priti Patel today announced there will be an independent inquiry into the ‘systematic failures’ that allowed Wayne Couzens to serve as a police officer and murder Sarah Everard
Sarah Everard, 33, was murdered by policeman Wayne Couzens, 48, in London last year
‘The public have a right to know what systematic failures enabled his continued employment as a police officer. We need answers as to why this was allowed to happen.
‘I can confirm today, there will be an inquiry, to give the independent oversight needed, to ensure something like this can never happen again.’
Ms Patel said that ‘all our thoughts remain with Sarah Everard’s family and friends’ as she refused to say Couzens’ name, describing him as a ‘monster’.
The inquiry will be split into two parts, with the first examining Couzens’ previous behaviour.
It will seek to establish a ‘definitive account’ of his conduct leading up to his conviction, as well ‘any opportunities missed’.
The second part of the probe will look at ‘specific issues raised by the first part of the inquiry’.
That could include examining wider issues across policing, including vetting practices, discipline and workplace behaviour.
Ms Patel will also write to the independent police inspectorate HMICFRS to commission a ‘thematic inspection of vetting and counter-corruption procedures in policing across England and Wales’.
This will look at how forces detect and deal with misogynistic and predatory behaviour.
The Home Office said the inquiry will be established on a non-statutory footing but ‘can be converted to a statutory inquiry if required’.
A chairman for the inquiry and its terms of reference will be announced by the Government in due course.
Labour’s shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said: ‘Labour has been calling for a full independent inquiry for days, yet the Prime Minister refused to support one.
‘Now the Home Secretary has half-heartedly announced one, but not put it on a robust, statutory footing to ensure there are no barriers in the way to getting answers.’
Ms Patel also used her conference speech in Manchester to vow tough new action to combat disruptive protests following a wave of action by the Insulate Britain campaign group.
She told Tory members: ‘It is because of our commitment to putting the needs of the hardworking, often silent, majority first, that I will not tolerate so called ecowarriors, trampling over our way of life and draining police resources.
‘Their actions over recent weeks have amounted to some of the most self-defeating ‘environmental’ protests this country has ever seen.
‘Freedom to protest is a fundamental right our Party will forever fight to uphold. But it must be within the law.
The Home Secretary also announced an expansion of drug testing on arrest across all 43 police forces in England and Wales
Ms Patel delivered a tough message to France to do more to stop migrant crossings as she defended the UK’s immigration reforms
‘Measures already going through Parliament will ensure these criminals can be brought to justice for the disruption they are causing.
‘But we are going further to close down the legal loopholes exploited by these offenders.
‘So today I can announce I will also increase the maximum penalties for disrupting a motorway, criminalise interference with key infrastructure such as roads, railways and our free press and give the police and courts new powers to deal with the small minority of offenders intent on travelling around the country, causing disruption and misery across our communities.’
New measures brought forward by Ms Patel will make it an offence to repeatedly obstruct roads or cause other delays.
The Criminal Disruption Prevention Orders – dubbed ‘Asbos for crusties’ – are intended to be quicker to enforce than the Government’s current approach, which has been based on High Court injunctions.
In a separate move, a new offence will be created to make it a crime to ‘interfere with critical national infrastructure’, including major roads, railways, seaports, power stations and newspaper printing presses.
The new crime will carry up to six months’ imprisonment and will be dealt with at magistrates’ courts only.
It will give police new options when arresting offenders who block motorways or other sites, and make it more likely that protesters will face jail.
The Government has been under pressure to launch a fresh crackdown on protesters after Insulate Britain, an offshoot of the Extinction Rebellion group, blocked major roads including the M25, M1 and M4 over the past three weeks.
Three court injunctions have been put in place to stop the protests but demonstrations have continued.
The group, which is calling on the Government to insulate all homes across the UK by 2030 to help cut carbon emissions, has mostly focused on blockading the M25 but has sat down on other London roads since last Friday.
Boris Johnson labelled the group ‘irresponsible crusties’ this morning as he vowed to end their disruptive demonstrations.
The Home Secretary also announced an expansion of drug testing on arrest across all 43 police forces in England and Wales.
She said: ‘Those who test positive as confirmed drug users will be supported to tackle their drug abuse and regain their independence.
‘But for those unwilling to address their drug misuse, there will be the harshest possible legal sanctions and consequences.’
The £15million expansion of drug testing over the next four years will see police forces told to test more suspected criminals for recreational drugs.
Activists from Insulate Britain caused chaos on the A40 and North Circular at Hanger Lane in West London yesterday
The policy will focus on arrests for crimes including narcotics offences, fraud and theft while five pilots will give police extra powers to test suspects arrested for crimes beyond the usual so-called ‘trigger’ offences of shoplifting, burglary and robbery.
Officers will test suspects in custody for the presence of heroin or cocaine.
A total of £375,000 will be offered to police forces immediately to expand their use of drug testing on arrest. The Government will offer £5,000 to all 43 forces in England and Wales to invest in extra testing equipment and training for police officers and staff this year.
And in addition to this, five forces – City of London, South Yorkshire, West Midlands, Hertfordshire and Gwent – will receive an additional £32,000 boost this year to increase testing for a wider range of offences, which could include domestic abuse and public order offences.
Those who test positive for opiates or cocaine will be referred for treatment or measures like drug awareness courses to try to ‘tackle the problem at its root and reduce the prevalence of drug misuse across society’.
Those who refuse will reportedly face prosecution with a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail or a £2,500 fine, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Ms Patel also delivered a tough message to France to do more to stop migrant crossings across the English Channel.
She said that ‘all states have a responsibility to control their borders’ because ‘where there is a door, there must be a door keeper’.
‘What is happening in the Channel with small boats is unsafe, unfair, and unacceptable,’ she told the conference.
‘From the vast camps outside Calais of mainly male, economic migrants, to the shocking images of people crammed onto flimsy boats crossing the Channel, exploited by people smugglers.
‘Vile criminals characterised by ruthlessness and greed, who even threaten to drown small children to line their pockets.
‘This cannot continue. Which is why we are going after the criminals behind this perilous trade in people smuggling.’
She said that ‘France is a safe country, one not riven by war or conflict’, adding: ‘There is no reason why any asylum seeker should come to the United Kingdom directly from France.
‘We make no apology for securing our borders and exploring all possible options to save lives by ending these horrific journeys.’