Vetting Gaps Allowed Killer Cop to Remain on Force

A forthcoming drama series will scrutinize the profound failings that permitted a known sexual offender to operate as a Metropolitan Police officer. The production aims to uncover how, across numerous years and various police forces, significant evidence of sexual misconduct was consistently disregarded. Poor vetting procedures, coupled with inadequate training and a lack of motivation, meant vital evidence against the officer was never properly collected or acted upon.

This new series comes in the wake of the March 2021 murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, a serving police officer who has since been sentenced to life imprisonment. Everard's death, which occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, ignited nationwide protests and brought critical issues of police accountability and public safety to the forefront.

Award-winning writer Jeff Pope, known for his work on sensitive topics, is producing the drama through his Etta Pictures label. Pope stated that opportunities to prevent Couzens from becoming or remaining an officer were missed, emphasizing that his continued service despite numerous past offenses was a tragedy waiting to happen. The BBC's Director of Drama, Lindsay Salt, affirmed the series' commitment to sensitively exploring the impact of the crime, the misogyny and failings within the Met, and the lessons to be learned, aiming to keep these issues in public consciousness.