Three Cops Sacked Over Sarah Everard Case Snooping
Three police officers have been hit with disciplinary action for snooping on secret files linked to the Sarah Everard disappearance and murder. Two were axed from the force, and a third slapped with a final written warning.
Dismissals and Disgrace
- PC Myles McHugh and ex-Detective Constable Hannah Rebbeck accessed police files without a legitimate reason. Both were fired.
- Sergeant Mark Harper got a final written warning valid for three years.
McHugh was off duty when he dug into the files. Rebbeck repeatedly accessed sensitive info with no valid excuse. Meanwhile, three others—Detective Constable Tyrone Ward, ex-Inspector Akinwale Ajose-Adeogun, and ex-Detective Sergeant Robert Butters—were cleared, having valid reasons to view the files.
Mass Investigation Uncovers Misconduct
The probe kicked off after Sarah Everard’s tragic murder in March 2021. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards launched a full audit to spot anyone accessing files without a proper policing purpose.
They flagged 104 officers and staff for potential wrongdoing, leading to:
- Eight gross misconduct hearings
- Ten written warnings
- Sixteen staff sent on reflective practice
- Thirty-eight resolved with reflective training
- Twenty-eight cases with no further action
The Met also rolled out special training to remind officers about proper system use.
Police Boss Apologises
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy apologised to Sarah Everard’s family for the distress caused by the breaches.
“Police systems and sensitive information must only be accessed with a legitimate policing purpose. The panel has carefully considered each case and appropriately held individuals accountable.”
Met Vows Tough on Misconduct
This latest scandal shows the Met is cracking down hard on breaches of trust.
“The most serious outcomes relate to individuals who were deliberately evasive or sought to avoid accountability—actions incompatible with Met values,” said DAC Cundy.
The case highlights the force’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive data and swiftly dealing with any abuse of access.
