Sarah Everard: a former prosecutor leading the investigation into rape and murder by a police officer | Sarah Everard

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The Department said the Home Office investigation into the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a police officer would be headed up by Ms Elish Angolini, the former public prosecutor for Scotland.

She will examine whether the chances of her killer, Wayne Cousins, identifying a danger to women before attacking Everard in March 2021 are lost.

Angiolini was selected as the head of the investigation, which will be in two parts, after consulting with Sarah Everard’s family.

The issues involved will be familiar to Angiolini. In 2015, she chaired a review of rape cases at the Met, after being appointed by the then commissioner, Bernard Hogan Howe. She led a government review of deaths in police custody, published in 2017. She also recently led a review on the handling of police complaints in Scotland and investigations and misconduct published in November 2020.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “The Angiolini investigation will highlight the failures that allowed an active police officer to abuse his power in a shocking way and make recommendations for change within the police.

Angelini described it as a “pivotal moment for the police”.

Previous allegations of sexual misconduct by Couzens dating back to 2015, which were allegedly missed by police, are subject to police screening procedures. The results of investigations by two police officers will be referred to Angiolini’s review.

Dozens were imprisoned for life. The officer misused his position and equipment to trick Evard into a car as she was returning to her home in south London during lockdown.

The Home Secretary had announced that an investigation would begin last month after Cousins’ verdict. The Met also set up its own investigation, headed by Louise Casey.

The Home Office refused to heed the calls to give its investigation full powers, so it would be illegal. The government claims it will be faster this way, but insists it can be diverted to a legal investigation if necessary.

The first part of the investigation will look at whether Couzens’ warning signs have been missed, and whether the allegations against him have been properly handled. The second part will consider the issues raised by the first part, and will report to the Minister of the Interior as soon as possible.

Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons, Patel described the case as “devastating” and said that Angiolini would examine “how this monster has managed to serve as a police officer for so long and seeks to establish a definitive account of his behaviour”.

“Part One will also seek to understand how his behavior has set off alarm bells with his teammates,” Patel added.

Patel said it would start out as illegal, which means witnesses or documents can’t be coerced, and people who mislead or lie cannot face prosecution. “Legal investigations can be long-term and flexible,” she said. “Sometimes recommendations are not made for a number of years.

“However, I would not rule out turning this into a legal basis, if Mrs. Elish feels she is unable to meet the terms of reference on an illegal basis.”

Couzens, while serving at the Met, used his command card and handcuffs to get Everard, 33, in his car as she drove home in south London at the height of Covid lockdown restrictions in March. The restrictions were a potential excuse to stop it.

The Cousins ​​took her to Kent before strangling her with a police belt and burning her body.

Patel said: “Sarah Everard’s life ended early at the hands of an evil man whose job it was to protect herself. We owe it to her, her loved ones and her family to prevent something like this from happening again.”

In 2015, when releasing her review of rape at The Met, Angiolini spoke of the “toxic psychology” that has led victims of sexual violence to blame themselves or feel shame.

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