FIVE police officers “shared misogynistic and racist messages” with Wayne Couzens months before he brutally raped and murdered Sarah Everard, it has been revealed.
The cops, some of whom are now under criminal investigation, are said to have shared the “vile” messages during a conversation with the killer – who will now spend his entire life behind bars for his heinous crimes.
Five police officers on duty, including three from the Met Police, have reportedly shared extremely offensive material with Wayne Couzens on a WhatsApp group.
The messages were misogynistic, racist and homophobic in nature, the Times reports.
The damning revelation comes after Cressida Dick today said ‘I’m so sorry’ to Sarah Everard’s family as the ailing British copper faced a frenzy of resignation calls.
The Met Police Commissioner is hanging by a thread after cold-blooded cop Couzens kidnaps, rapes and murdered Sarah under his watch.
She said Couzens put the police to shame in “one of the most terrible events in the 192-year history of the Metropolitan Police.”
But the criminal investigation into Wayne Couzens’ colleagues – who exchanged “vile” messages with each other – has sparked a new wave of doubt among British police units.
Three officers from the Met Police, an officer from the Norfolk Police Force and another from the Civilian Nuclear Police – where Couzens previously worked – are under investigation for serious misconduct.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed that messages sent to the WhatsApp group were “discriminatory and / or inappropriate in nature.”
The watchdog said two of the Met officers and the former officer were under criminal investigation for sending in extremely offensive material.
In addition to the messages found in the group, the IOPC is also investigating officers who joked about violence against women.
Other officers have reportedly inappropriately shared information related to Couzens’ pursuit.
During the course of the affair, it emerged that Couzens was known to other officers as ‘the rapist’ and had previously been a flasher – which prompted serious questions about how he was allowed to keep his job.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “sickened” by the kidnapping, rape and murder of Sarah Everard, adding: “No woman should have to fear harassment or violence”.
But he defended the country’s police, saying they were “there to protect us” and insisted: “People must be able to walk our streets without fear of being hurt and with full confidence that the police are there to protect us. ensure their safety ”.
Home Secretary Priti Patel intervened, saying it was right that the “monster” was given a life sentence.
She said there were “serious questions” the Met police needed to answer about the murder, but dodged questions about whether Dick should stay on or resign.
Interior Ministry sources stressed that she supported the underprivileged leader.
The meteorological police have been contacted for comment.
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