BBC embroiled in fresh row as licence fee payers divided over new Sarah Everard TV drama: 'Must be handled carefully!'

Couzens falsely arrested Ms Everard for breaching lockdown rules before driving her out of the capital, where he raped and killed her.

Following news of the BBC's TV project, online reaction to the drama announcement has been mixed.

Some have welcomed the re-telling of Ms Everard’s story as a way to keep her legacy alive, while others have criticised the BBC for supposedly "exploiting" such a sensitive case.

"That’s a heavy story, will need to be handled carefully," one person wrote on X, while another penned: "The story of Sarah Everard deserves justice, not just viewership. Awareness matters, but at what point does storytelling become exploitation?"

A third accused the BBC of "turning real tragedy into primetime drama again".

However, one person shared: "It’s going to be intense, but telling Sarah Everard’s story could raise awareness about safety and the real risks women face, as long as it’s handled sensitively."

"I'll hold my judgment until I've watched it," declared another.

The case exposed deep-rooted misogyny and systemic failings in policing that have severely damaged public trust, particularly regarding violence against women and girls.

The series will investigate how allegations and complaints against the police officer were repeatedly ignored across his career with different forces.

Bafta-winning screenwriter Jeff Pope, whose credits include Little Boy Blue, A Confession, and Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, is penning the yet-to-be-titled drama and serving as executive producer.

Mr Pope said: "Wayne Couzens should never have been a police officer, but opportunities to deny him that privilege were missed.

"(The fact that) he was still a serving officer on the night of March 3rd 2021, after committing numerous sexual offences over a long period of time, was a tragedy waiting to happen, and the key question asked by this drama."

Etta Pictures, part of ITV Studios, is producing the series and has been in contact with the Everard family to ensure it is handled with appropriate sensitivity and respect.

The programme will examine how substantial evidence of Couzens’ sexual offending was repeatedly dismissed throughout his policing career, as multiple complaints and allegations had been lodged against Couzens before the killing.

Inadequate vetting procedures and insufficient training meant crucial information that could have exposed him was never properly gathered or acted upon.

On the evening of the murder, Couzens had just completed a shift guarding the American embassy before carrying out what investigators describe as a premeditated attack.

Lindsay Salt, the BBC’s Director of Drama, highlighted the capacity of drama to explore real-world events with care and dignity.

"Drama has a unique ability to sensitively and respectfully tackle real-life subjects and this series will explore the impact of this horrific crime, the misogyny and failings from within the Met Police and what lessons can be learnt," Ms Salt said.

She added that Mr Pope would approach the material with careful consideration, keeping the factors that enabled Ms Everard’s death in the public eye, and emphasised that the production would continue holding the police accountable for their failings.

Couzens received a whole life order in September 2021 after admitting to kidnapping, rape and murder, representing the most severe sentence available under UK law.

No broadcast date has been confirmed, with the BBC stating that additional details will be released in due course.