Wayne Couzens Sacked Immediately Over Sarah Everard Murder
Wayne Couzens, the former Met officer convicted for the kidnap, rape, and murder of Sarah Everard, has been fired with immediate effect following a fast-tracked misconduct hearing.
Rapid Dismissal After Guilty Pleas
On Friday 16 July, Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball concluded a misconduct hearing and ruled that Couzens, 48, breached professional standards with discreditable conduct. Couzens, who served in the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was dismissed without notice.
His guilty pleas came at the Central Criminal Court earlier in July. On 8 June, Couzens admitted to kidnapping and raping Sarah Everard, and on 9 July, he pleaded guilty to her murder.
Hearing Held Behind Closed Doors for Legal Reasons
Normally public, the misconduct hearing was held privately to avoid jeopardising ongoing legal proceedings, despite the intense public interest. AC Ball decided transparency must give way to safeguarding the criminal case, even though Couzens had pleaded guilty.
Assistant Commissioner’s Strong Condemnation
“Couzens has betrayed everything we, the police, stand for and following his guilty pleas and convictions I have dismissed him today.
“All of us in the Met are horrified, sickened and angered by this man’s crimes. Sarah was a young woman who had her life cruelly snatched away from her.
I know she is sorely missed by so many people and our thoughts remain with her loved ones. We are so profoundly sorry.”
The Met Police Service acted swiftly, holding the accelerated hearing immediately after Couzens’ conviction on 9 July, leading to his dismissal just a week later.
