Met Police to be investigated over handling of indecent exposure allegation against suspect in Sarah Everard case

Support us and go ad-free

Scotland Yard is facing an investigation by the police watchdog into its handling of an allegation of indecent exposure involving the suspect in the Sarah Everard case.

Response

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is to probe whether officers “responded appropriately” after receiving a report that a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in south London on 28 February – three days before the 33-year-old went missing.

A serving police officer remains in custody after being detained on suspicion of Everard’s murder and kidnap, and a separate allegation of indecent exposure. Police have been granted more time to question him.

The IOPC said in a statement:

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has started an independent investigation into whether Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers responded appropriately to a report of indecent exposure.

The IOPC’s investigation follows a conduct referral from the MPS in relation to two officers, received last night (Wednesday), which is linked to four other referrals.

Read on...

Support us and go ad-free

They are all connected to the arrest of a serving MPS officer on suspicion of kidnap, murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure.

The IOPC is also assessing a referral relating to police actions after Everard was reported missing, as well as another in relation to the suspect being taken to hospital.

The arrested officer, who is in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was treated for a head injury sustained while in custody on 11 March. He was later discharged and returned to the police station where he is being held. The Met later said he had sustained the injury while alone in his cell and received immediate first aid.

Sarah Everard missing
Sarah Everard, 33, vanished while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on March 3 (Metropolitan Police/PA)

“Shining example”

Everard vanished while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on 3 March, with her suspected kidnap and murder prompting anger over the safety of women on the UK’s streets. Human remains – which have not yet been identified – were found in an area of woodland in Ashford, in Kent, on 10 March.

On 11 March, Everard’s family released a statement describing her as a “shining example to us all”, and said she had “brought so much joy to our lives”.

They said:

Our beautiful daughter Sarah was taken from us and we are appealing for any information that will help to solve this terrible crime. Sarah was bright and beautiful – a wonderful daughter and sister. She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.

She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all. We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives. We would like to thank our friends and family for all their support during this awful time and we would especially like to thank Sarah’s friends who are working tirelessly to help.

Everard’s family also thanked the police and pleaded for people with further information to come forward. “No piece of information is too insignificant,” they said.

A woman in her 30s, who was arrested on 9 March on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released on bail to return to a police station on a date in mid-April, police said.

Outpour

The events since Everard’s disappearance have prompted an outpouring of shock and anger as women across the country shared their own experiences of feeling unsafe.

A vigil was due to take place at Clapham Common bandstand in south London on 13 March – but organisers are now seeking legal action after claiming the Metropolitan Police reversed their position on allowing the event to go ahead.

Police vehicles at search site
A private ambulance (middle) among police vehicles at the search in an area of woodland in Ashford (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The group said it needed to raise £30,000 by 9am on 12 March to cover any legal costs, and set up a crowdfunding site asking the public to make donations. It reached the target shortly before 10.30pm on 11 March, with donations continuing to pour in.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan admitted the capital’s streets are not safe for women or girls when speaking to LBC on 11 March.

Support us and go ad-free

We know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support

The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.

The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.

So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.

Support us