Officers investigated for sharing misogynistic texts with Couzens prior to murder
A number of officers from three police forces are under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over allegations they shared misogynistic, racist and homophobic texts with Wayne Couzens months before he raped and murdered Sarah Everard.
The IOPC is scrutinising the conduct of five serving officers and one former office over allegations they sent discriminatory messages over WhatsApp.
Three of the serving officers are with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), one from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and one from Norfolk Constabulary. The former officer was previously with the MPS.
They are being investigated for gross misconduct for allegedly sending messages of a discriminatory and/or inappropriate nature, and for allegedly failing to challenge the messages sent by the others.
Two of the MPS officers and the former MPS officer have also been notified that they are being criminally investigated for improper use of the public electronic communications network under Section 127 of the Communications Act.
An additional investigation is taking place into allegations that officers from several forces breached standards of professional behaviour when they used a messaging app to share information connected to the prosecution of Couzens.
In a statement the IOPC said: “One officer was investigated for gross misconduct as there was an indication they had shared details presented in court from an interview given by Couzens under caution, when there was no policing purpose to do so. A further six officers were served with misconduct notices as there was an indication that they failed to challenge the sharing of the information, and that two of them also joined in the conversation.”
“Our investigation report and conclusions were shared with the forces last month (August) and we will publish our findings when we have made final decisions for all of the officers over what further action will be taken.”
