Information about Wayne Couzens

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.036183

I note you seek access to the following information:

I am emailing to ask a few questions about the Sarah Everard murder a few years ago where off-duty Metropolitan Police constable Wayne Couzens handcuffed her, and placed her in his car before driving her to near Dover where he raped and strangled her, before burning her body and disposing of her remains in a nearby pond.

It was reported that several officers were criticised for giving character references for Couzens during his sentencing hearings.
Lord Justice Fulford said officers had "spoken supportively" of the murderer

Do you happen to have information concerning:

1. How many officers spoke up in support of Couzens in the form of a written or verbal character references?
2. What are the names of these officers who provided these written or verbal character references?
3. Were these officers ever disciplined for bringing the force into disrepute?
4. Do these officers still work for the Met, or for the police force at all?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

No officer gave a “character reference” and it would be inaccurate to present these comments as such. The comments were selective extracts from a character profile the investigation team had built, after they asked Couzens’ colleagues about how he presented at work. This is a standard investigative line of enquiry, given the circumstances of the offence under investigation.”