Five years have now passed since the murder of Sarah Everard by then-serving police officer Wayne Couzens, an event that sent shockwaves throughout the United Kingdom and ignited a national reckoning on violence against women and the integrity of law enforcement. The anniversary, marked on March 3, 2026, has brought renewed scrutiny to both the culture within police forces and the ongoing challenges facing women’s safety in public spaces.
According to a detailed investigation by Sky News, dozens of serving police officers across England and Wales have faced criminal inquiries for rape and sexual offences since Everard’s death. Of the 43 police forces contacted, 17 responded to Freedom of Information requests, all confirming they had launched criminal investigations into officers for sexual offences, with 16 specifically confirming rape allegations. Six forces reported bringing rape charges, while 15 had charged officers for sexual offences over the past five years.
Perhaps most troubling is the revelation that some officers under investigation for such grave allegations continued working without suspension or restrictions. At the Metropolitan Police, more than a quarter—28%—of officers under investigation for sexual misconduct between 2021 and 2025 were allowed to work unrestricted. This has fueled concerns about the effectiveness of internal disciplinary processes and the broader culture within policing.
Helen Millichap, deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police and national lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, told Sky News, “It’s an incredibly awful truth that we have abusers and perpetrators inside our organisation.” She acknowledged that this reality could be a significant barrier to women and girls coming forward to report crimes, as they may fear not being believed or protected.
The murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, who exploited his authority as a police officer to abduct and kill her, remains a deeply symbolic case. Couzens, now 53, is serving a life sentence at HMP Frankland in Durham, a high-security prison known as ‘Monster Mansion’ for its population of notorious offenders. He is held in segregation due to his notoriety and former police status, with prison insiders revealing there is a “bounty on his head.” Violence within the prison is severe, with attacks involving boiling water, hot oil, and makeshift weapons being reported. Former inmates and staff describe the constant threat faced by high-profile prisoners like Couzens, whose crimes are not only widely condemned but also seen as a betrayal of public trust.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Tracy King explained to the Mirror that managing such offenders involves heightened emotional labor and security challenges, especially as prison staffing shortages make oversight more difficult. “In cases like Ian Huntley, or Wayne Couzens, the offender is not just another prisoner. They are a symbol. Their crimes are widely known, widely condemned, and emotionally charged. That increases the risk of inmate-on-inmate hostility, which in turn requires tighter management, controlled movement, separation, intelligence monitoring, and careful staffing,” she said.
Couzens’ time in prison has also been marked by complaints over privileges and personal comfort. In March 2022, he was granted permission to purchase an Xbox 360 for good conduct but was reportedly unhappy about restrictions on violent video games. In April 2024, he lodged an official complaint after being denied a birthday present from his mother, a grievance that was dismissed as standard procedure. These episodes, as Dr. King noted, are not unusual for inmates who often fixate on small comforts as a way to exert control over their limited environment. “When you’ve lost your freedom, those details can feel disproportionately important because they’re the only pieces of your environment you can try to influence,” she said.
The ripples from Everard’s murder continue to be felt far beyond prison walls. Public trust in policing, especially among women and girls, remains at a crisis point. A YouGov poll for Sky News found that 68% of women feel unsafe walking home alone at night, with many adopting regular precautions—such as carrying keys for self-defense or avoiding socializing late—to protect themselves. The murder sparked widespread protests and a national conversation about the safety of women and the accountability of those in power.
The Angiolini Inquiry, launched in response to Everard’s murder, has called for more thorough investigations into indecent exposure and highlighted systemic failures in police vetting and oversight. Notably, Couzens had previously been accused of sexual assault on a child before joining the police, and he exposed himself days before killing Everard. Despite these red flags, he was able to continue serving as an officer. The Inquiry’s second report, published in December 2025, found that many of its recommendations remain unimplemented, including a key proposal to bar officers with prior sexual offence convictions or cautions from policing roles.
Baroness Casey’s 2023 review into the Metropolitan Police’s standards and culture concluded that the misconduct system was “not fit for purpose” and too complex to efficiently sanction officers who would likely be dismissed in other organizations. Since 2021, only five police forces have been rated ‘good’ for vetting, while nine out of 11 inspected since 2025 were found to require improvement in handling misconduct allegations.
Jess Phillips, the government’s minister for violence against women and girls, told Sky News that reforms due this summer will “tighten rules requiring police forces to suspend officers under investigation for crimes such as domestic abuse or sexual offences.” The government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, though campaigners argue progress is too slow and implementation remains patchy.
Gemma Sherrington, CEO of the charity Refuge, summed up the prevailing frustration: “Five years on from the horrific murder of Sarah Everard at the hands of former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, women and girls’ confidence in policing remains at crisis point. In the past five years, we’ve seen promises of reform and some welcome policy advancements, but women and girls deserve more. They need to see meaningful, lasting change to prevent atrocities like those committed against Sarah from ever happening again.”
Meanwhile, Couzens’ personal life has also unraveled in the public eye. His family home in Deal, Kent, was put up for sale twice since his conviction, with the asking price reduced after failing to attract buyers. In June 2025, Couzens underwent a non-emergency spinal operation at an NHS hospital, a procedure that reportedly cost the public thousands in security and medical expenses, sparking outrage among politicians and the public alike.
As the nation reflects on the five-year anniversary of Sarah Everard’s murder, the calls for genuine reform in policing and justice for victims of violence remain urgent and unresolved. The case stands as both a stark warning and a rallying cry for change, reminding the public and authorities alike that the work to ensure women’s safety and rebuild trust in institutions is far from finished.