Sarah Everard: Wayne Couzens protected by ‘toxic culture’ in the police, Baroness Jones tells Parliament

Sarah Everard’s killer was protected by a “toxic culture” within the police, Parliament has been told.

The charge was made at Westminster amid calls to make misogyny a hate crime.

The kidnap, rape and murder of Ms Everard in March 2021 by a serving Metropolitan Police officer shocked the nation and is the subject of an independent inquiry.

Wayne Couzens used his warrant card and handcuffs to snatch the 33-year-old marketing executive off the street, using Covid lockdown rules to make a false arrest.

He was sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars in September.

The case rocked public confidence in the police and shone a spotlight on the culture within the service and the conduct of some officers.

Referring to Ms Everard’s killer in the House of Lords, Green Party peer Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb said: “He was part of the police and he was protected by a quite toxic culture within the police.

“Would the minister agree that if we had misogyny as a crime the police themselves might improve on their behaviour?”

Responding, Home Office minister Baroness Williams of Trafford said: “I think what was clear from the murder of Sarah Everard and the ensuing inquiry is that we need to look into an awful lot of areas – the culture, vetting and other elements of what might have led to what happened.

“I think it goes probably beyond misogyny.”

Raising the issue in the upper chamber, Labour peer Baroness Donaghy said: “I am still haunted by the last few hours of Sarah Everard.

“It could have been any young woman because the murdering misogynist who is now serving time had prepared to pick any young woman.

“There are online groups who objectify and dehumanise women and girls and they radicalise young men who go on to commit acts of aggression designed to intimidate, humiliate and control women.

“When is the minister going to act on making misogyny a hate crime to counteract the widespread misogynist culture in the police and elsewhere, and the shameful drop in rape convictions?”

Lady Williams said: “In terms of what she has outlined I think it goes far beyond misogyny, but I can totally appreciate her question in that quite often it starts with misogyny.”

The minister added: “She will know a rape review has been carried out whose intention it is to improve the response right through the criminal justice system.”