UK UK - Sarah Everard, 33, London - Clapham Common area, 3 March 2021 *Arrests* #8

[LucyRocket]

I think when there is the chance she was still alive they needed to take the risk in the hope he would lead them to her. It’s possible they had information or were highly suspicious that upon arrest he would clam up and give no information which could have meant a delay in finding her alive.

I'd dreamed in highest hope that would be the case. These words sound like crumbs now, I know that. But up until yesterday I honestly had been dreaming that this would be the one in a million, where the missing would be found alive. Although I knew how unlikely that was. I wanted this to be the one

 

[Stella123]

More updates on Kent Online

"The Metropolitan Police made five referrals to the police watchdog after arresting a serving officer on suspicion of murdering Sarah Everard.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has so far confirmed it will probe one relating to the Met's handling of an indecent exposure complaint made against suspect Wayne Couzens, 48, in the days before the 33-year-old marketing executive's disappearance."

"Another, referral which the IOPC is still assessing, relates to an incident earlier today in which Couzens suffered a head injury while in custody."

"Two of the referrals to the IOPC were linked to the conduct of Couzens.
The IOPC has determined both these matters should be locally investigated by the Met.
A third relates to the actions of police after Ms Everard was reported missing. The Met await the IOPC’s assessment."

"A further voluntary referral was made for a conduct matter in relation to the police investigation into the separate allegations of indecent exposure. The IOPC have determined this will be subject to an independent IOPC investigation.

Another mandatory referral to the IOPC made after Couzens was taken to a hospital for treatment to a head injury sustained while alone in his custody cell.

A Met spokesman said: "He was being monitored by CCTV and received immediate first aid. We await the IOPC’s assessment. We are offering every assistance to the IOPC."

"The IOPC said its investigation will look at the actions of the Met after police received a report on February 28 that “a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in South London”.

"The IOPC added: “Yesterday we determined that two conduct referrals relating to kidnap/murder and indecent exposure allegations against the arrested officer should remain under local investigation by the force.

“We are still assessing a mandatory referral in relation to the actions of police after they received a report that Sarah Everard was missing.”

The investigation into Ms Everard's murder is being led by Specialist Crime detectives who are drawing on expertise and skills from hundreds of colleagues across the Met. They are also being supported by Kent Police."

Five referrals to watchdog as serving officer questioned over Sarah's murder

 

[Kaykedi]

Could you link? Genuinely curious as I can't recall seeing such photos.

Could you link? Genuinely curious as I can't recall seeing such photos.

I wonder if Stella123 may be referring to the photo of WC in The Sun newspaper where he is wearing a blue polo shirt? He is sat with a blonde female at a table in a restaurant. The first thing I thought was he's muscular. The second thing I thought was, Steroids. JMO

 

[kittythehare]

sat nav on his car might have had his history stored

Of course!
I'd quite forgotten that.
Thank you.

 

[LucyRocket]

What I am saying is that they didn’t arrest him because they hoped to ascertain if she was being held. Once arresting him, they lose the chance for him to potentially lead them to her, etc.

So perhaps they decided that the chance of finding her alive was worth the risk of observing him until such a time that they reached a point where the outcome for Sarah became a foregone conclusion.

The opportunity to find someone alive is presumably a massive priority for LE in these situations?

These situations, and particularly THIS situation

 

[Stella123]

Could you link? Genuinely curious as I can't recall seeing such photos.

On this link - quite a few photos of him. The Facebook one where he has huge muscles and looks big and powerful. I am assuming that it is a more recent one by the look of it. JMO

Human remains found as PC arrested held on suspicion of murder

 

[MrsKierkegaard]

Another newbie here - more of a lurker but may be useful to see the official diagnostic criteria for IE

Exhibitionistic Disorder - Psychiatric Disorders - MSD Manual Professional Edition

this includes the DSM criteria for diagnosis of exhibitionist disorder which is what indecent exposure would come under

Ah, the old DSM. Welcome Lisa and thanks for that great info.

 

[Stella123]

Of course!
I'd quite forgotten that.
Thank you.

Brilliant - that would really tell a lot. He may have thought of that and wiped it though.

 

[Whitehall 1212]

1. If it was felt that SE was still alive but held captive then this would have had a major influence on the police decision making.

2. The police would need sufficient evidence of kidnap and/or murder before arresting. They may have to put their man under surveillance whilst they obtain this.

3. The safest and most appropriate place to arrest was at his home address. Not only was EC also present but by arresting at the home address, just after he arrived home, the police have immediate authority under PACE to search the house and car, if authorised by the SIO, immediately.

 

[lisa12000]

Ah, the old DSM. Welcome Lisa and thanks for that great info.

Thank you for the welcome

like many others I was drawn to this site due to my horror of this case abs want to thank members for their great posts - certainly has made things a lot clearer even under the most horrible circumstances

 

[Lilbitcurious]

You're warmly welcome.
You posted great.
It is possible but in everything I read it stated they had not met in the past.
That could well change.
I'm glad you posted.[

Sooo is it only me that thinks the “search” outside the flats was staged! Close the main road through and attract or distract attention away from where the woodland was, no press, no drama? There was a private (IMO) ambulance driving out of the gate followed by a car when reporter on camera, right behind them! Is the road that was closed the only main Ed in and out?

 

[kittythehare]

Suspension should always be a last case resort in any UK employment case and because of this it's very unlikely that he'd be suspended then be allowed to return. Also in the police dealing with things like this (suspension/disciplinary/potential criminal charges) even for minor cases tend to take way longer than they would in a normal organisation. If they were at suspension stage for the IE case then unless he really could prove it wasn't him (which he should have done prior to it escalating to him being suspended) he'd be suspended until his court date, if proven guilty he would then be dismissed by the met.

If there was the slightest hint that this cop might be a dirty cop and they didn't suspend him right away but allowed him to have ongoing public duties and a member of the public got harmed, their own heads would roll, and roll bigly.
LE are paid to uphold the law, there simply is no room for anything less or even a hint of it.
This is separate to normal employment law.

 

[Sunjackal]

Sooo is it only me that thinks the “search” outside the flats was staged! Close the main road through and attract or distract attention away from where the woodland was, no press, no drama? There was a private (IMO) ambulance driving out of the gate followed by a car when reporter on camera, right behind them! Is the road that was closed the only main Ed in and out?

I doubt it was staged. It was an area where she was last seen, and I suspect the Police wouldn’t waste resources in a critical investigation setting up a dupe crime scene.

 

[Sunjackal]

If there was the slightest hint that this cop might be a dirty cop and they didn't suspend him right away but allowed him to have ongoing public duties and a member of the public got harmed, their own heads would roll, and roll bigly.
LE are paid to uphold the law, there simply is no room for anything less or even a hint of it.
This is separate to normal employment law.

I don’t think that’s true, I am afraid. Preservation of life is their utmost responsibility.

 

[LucyRocket]

I couldn't care to look at one more picture of him

 

[NoneSpringsToMind]

sat nav on his car might have had his history stored

also, and probably very unlikely considering what he was using the car for, but it may have had its own dash cam. As I say, unlikely, but if he hadn’t planned to abduct anyone he may have completely forgotten to disable the dash cam, if there was one.

reasons this is most unlikely

1) if it was a hire car would it have dash cam?
2) the footage would have likely been recorded over a week later
3) if there was a dash cam he more than likely would have disabled it.

but you never know. JMO

 

[kittythehare]

Brilliant - that would really tell a lot. He may have thought of that and wiped it though.

How easy is it to do that?

 

[Stella123]

Just read the above link again regarding Police watchdog referrals outcomes and posting two quotes again as the second one seems very significant. What it seems to say is - that the indecent exposure allegation is no longer being looked into by them as to the Met conduct, and is referred back to local investigation. But also says they are still assessing the actions of the Police after they received a report that SE was missing.

So they are querying the timeline between her going missing and the time before any action was taken it sounds like. JMO

"The IOPC added: “Yesterday we determined that two conduct referrals relating to kidnap/murder and indecent exposure allegations against the arrested officer should remain under local investigation by the force.

“We are still assessing a mandatory referral in relation to the actions of police after they received a report that Sarah Everard was missing.”


Five referrals to watchdog as serving officer questioned over Sarah's murder

 

[Stella123]

How easy is it to do that?

I guess you'd just reset it to factory settings - like most gadgets when you're going to sell them on.

 

[SimplyCass]

How easy is it to do that?

AFAIK it is quite hard to completely wipe data permanently (most people dispose of it or damage it physically, or encrypt it). You have to really know what you're doing. Haven't followed this much, is this an actual separate GPS unit or part of a smartphone or car navigation system?