Three Metropolitan Police officers charged over messages in Wayne Couzens WhatsApp group

Messages uncovered during watchdog’s investigation after murder of Sarah Everard

Home Affairs Editor

Thursday 17 February 2022 15:11 GMT

Sarah Everard was murdered by police officer Wayne Couzens (PA )

Three Metropolitan Police officers have been charged with sending “grossly offensive” messages in a WhatsApp group used by Wayne Couzens.

The messages, from between April and August 2019, were uncovered by a watchdog investigation following the murder of Sarah Everard last year.

Rosemary Ainslie, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Each of the three defendants has been charged with sending grossly offensive messages on a public communications network. The alleged offences took place on a WhatsApp group chat.”

The men, who have not yet been officially named, were all officers at the time of the alleged offences in 2019.

Two are currently serving in the force and one has subsequently left. The Independent understands that Couzens is not among the officers charged.

They have been charged with sending grossly offensive messages on a public communications network, contrary to section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

All three defendants will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 March.

The charges came after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

“The IOPC’s investigation began following a referral from the Metropolitan Police Service in April last year and was completed in December when we referred a file of evidence to the CPS,” the watchdog said.

Couzens kidnapped, raped and murdered Ms Everard, after staging a fake arrest as she walked home during Covid restrictions.

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

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1/36Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A well-wisher places flowers at a bandstand

AFP via Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A woman cries at a memorial site at the Clapham Common Bandstand

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People mourn at a memorial site

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People mourn at a memorial site

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A group of women hug as they stand in front of tributes for Sarah Everard

Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A photograph of Sarah Everard is left with tributes to her at the bandstand on Clapham Common

Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A woman reacts at a memorial site

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Stones with signatures on them lie at a memorial site at the Clapham Common Bandstand

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Two women embrace as they stand before tributes for Sarah Everard

Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People leave floral tributes

PA

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather to lay flowers and pay their respects

Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A message is seen among the flowers on Clapham Common

Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People mourn at a memorial site at the Clapham Common Bandstand

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A woman leaves a floral tribute

AP

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A woman reacts at a memorial site

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Members of the public surround tributes for Sarah Everard at the bandstand on Clapham Common

Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Well-wishers make their way towards a band-stand

AFP via Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather at a memorial site

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather at a memorial site

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Women gather at the band stand

PA

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather at the band stand

PA

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A woman reacts as she looks at tributes

Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather to lay flowers and pay their respects

Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather at the band stand

PA

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather at a memorial site

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather at the band stand

AP

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A woman holds a sign at a memorial site

Reuters

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People gather

AP

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

People in the crowd turn on their phone torches

PA

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A woman holds up a placard

PA

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Well-wishers shout slogans as they gather

AFP via Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

A woman is arrested

Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Police officers form a cordon

AFP via Getty Images

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Tributes paid to Sarah Everard at Clapham Common vigil

Police detain a woman

Reuters

The case has sparked an independent review into the Metropolitan Police’s “standards and culture”, and a separate public inquiry that will probe whether opportunities to stop Couzens were missed, and wider issues with vetting.

Dame Cressida Dick announced her resignation as commissioner last week, following pressure from the mayor of London after a fresh scandal over misogyny and racism at Charing Cross police station.