The Speaker of the House of Commons has asked the Metropolitan Police for an urgent meeting after it emerged that the firearms officer who murdered Sarah Everard had worked on Parliament grounds in 2020.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle said it was “extremely worrying” that Wayne Couzens was deployed as an armed officer in the Houses of Parliament, adding that it raised questions about police vetting procedures.
On the occasion, a former senior Metropolitan Police officer called for a re-examination of all officers as an “urgent” measure to reassure the public.
On Thursday, Couzens was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Old Bailey by Lord Justice Fulford, who said his “twisted, selfish and brutal” offences had undermined confidence in the police.
Ms Everard, 33, was walking home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London, on the evening of March 3 when she was abducted, raped and murdered by 48-year-old Couzens.
The Metropolitan Police had previously stated that Couzens moved to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in February 2020, where his main role was to patrol diplomatic premises, mainly embassies.
On Saturday, a Met spokesman said: “Couzens was deployed to provide armed static protection on Parliament grounds on five occasions between February and July 2020.”
The Parliamentary Estate includes the Palace of Westminster, seat of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Sir Lindsay said: “Like everyone else, I am disgusted by Wayne Couzens’ depravity – and my heart breaks for Sarah Everard’s family.
“The news that Couzens was deployed as an armed officer on Parliament grounds is extremely disturbing and raises a number of questions about police vetting procedures.
“For this reason, I have asked the Metropolitan Police to meet with me urgently to discuss why this individual could be considered suitable for deployment here.
“I will also ensure that at no time was anyone on Parliament grounds put at risk.
“The safety of members and staff has always been my top priority, so I want to know how this man was ever able to cross the parliamentary threshold.”
In court, Couzens was accused of having had a “penchant for brutal sexual pornography” as early as 2002.
The police watchdog had previously said he was linked to a speed camera incident in 2015, as well as two other incidents just days before Ms Everard’s killing.
Parm Sandhu, a former chief superintendent of British police, said urgent action was needed to restore public confidence in the police.
On Sunday, she told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips: “Everyone who works in the police today should be re-vetted. Everyone who went through the vetting process 20 or 30 years ago, everyone.”
“Every single person needs to be checked and if anything from their past comes up – it doesn’t have to be a conviction, it just has to come to light, because with this man it came to light.
“Therefore, each person should be re-screened and assessed to determine whether they are safe to work with members of the community and the public.
“This must be done now as an urgent measure to reassure the public and restore lost trust in the police. But it must be done regularly so that no one comes anywhere close to the actions of Wayne Couzens.”
Meanwhile, Police Scotland announced it was introducing a new check that individual officers will offer to members of the public they approach in response to Couzens using his badge to falsely arrest Ms Everard before her murder.
Starting Saturday, officers, operating on their own, will proactively offer to conduct background checks on anyone they encounter who appears concerned about their safety, police said.
The officer’s radio is switched to loudspeaker and a control room employee confirms who he is.
According to Police Scotland, police officers usually work in pairs, but on rare occasions a single officer may approach a passer-by.
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