SARAH EVERARD - the search for Justice - Tue 5/3 - bbc 1 9pm

[Blondeshavemorefun]

this case always touches my heart as she was found quite local to me and I remember the searches 🥲

glad her family have the knowledge to help closure if that’s ever possible

The murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard by a serving Metropolitan Police Officer who abducted her as she walked home in March 2021 was a watershed moment for the nation.

It brought to the fore devastating issues within our police forces and highlighted the extent of violence against women and girls in our society - an issue recently declared a national priority alongside terrorism and organised crime.

This new documentary for BBC One and iPlayer looks at the Met’s investigation into Sarah’s murder, how this devastating crime unfolded and its impact.

Told by those closely involved in the case from the outset, many of whom are speaking on camera for the first time, including the Senior Investigating Officer, the Prosecuting Barrister and Sarah’s local MP.

Since Sarah’s murder, the narrative of ‘one bad apple’ has been destroyed. The force was placed in special measures and a major review of the Met Police found a culture of denial, widespread bullying, discrimination, institutional homophobia, misogyny and racism.

The repercussions continue to be far reaching, with police forces up and down the country forced to confront the culture and behaviour in their own ranks.

An Independent Inquiry launched by the Home Office is underway, to examine how this tragedy could happen, and, in the words of the then Home Secretary, the “unimaginable failures in policing” Sarah’s murder has exposed. Since Sarah's case, hundreds of police officers continue to face sexual assault allegations, including one of the UK's most prolific sex offenders, offending over a twenty-year career in the Metropolitan Police.

The film is being made by BBC Studios Documentary Unit. During the making of this film, the production team has been in close contact with Sarah’s parents. They hope that it will bring increased focus to issues of women’s safety, and abuse of power by police and other in positions of authority.

Emma Loach, BBC Lead Commissioning Editor, Documentaries, says: “The murder of Sarah Everard sent shock waves across the country and ignited an urgent conversation about police failings and violence against women and girls. This is an important and timely film and we, like Sarah’s family, hope it will contribute to the ongoing dialogue around the issues raised.”
Sarah Everard: The Search For Justice is a 1x60’ for BBC One and iPlayer, made by BBC Studios Documentary Unit.

It was commissioned by Clare Sillery, Head of Commissioning, Documentaries. The Executive Producers are Emily Lawson and Kirsty Cunningham, the Director is Lottie Gammon, the Producers are Clio Symington, Celia Jennison and Florence Barrow. The Archive Producer is Peter Scott. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Emma Loach.

FS
Note to editors
Sarah Everard’s family politely request no contact or interview requests are made.
We will not be featuring pictures of Wayne Couzens next to Sarah in the film, and in line with the family's wishes, we would ask that the press respects the same.

You absolutely should be able to do whatever you want in safety.

Poor Sarah. Very infuriating to hear people say afterwards oh she should have run off or waved down a bus!
the female detective did a brilliant job tracking him.
the Met should ban WhatsApp groups between colleagues. They are only ever a terrible idea and encourage awful behaviour.

Must be really hard for the witness in the car who thought she had witnessed a woman getting arrested and handcuffed but realised in retrospect that she had witnessed Sarah being abducted.

Yeah and what was with the women arent streetwise enough bollocks

She wasn't walking home late. It was only 9:30. Not that it matters what time it was really but I don't think it's for women to modify their behaviour.

This was a tough watch.

We've all walked home at night from somewhere. We would have trusted someone we believed to be a policeman.

I think about the point at which she knew something was terribly wrong and how terrified she must have been.

I think about how the thought of what Sarah went through must torture her family and loved ones.

I think about the family of that evil man and how he shattered their lives too.

I hope he dies an awful and painful death.

Cressida Dick should have had her damehood removed - she oversaw an organisation that is still rife with misogyny

The recent report needs to be implemented - vetting of policemen etc
More than anything it should be in the job description to report inappropriate behaviour by colleagues
The policeman that did not deal with Couzens ( flashing) was found not guilty of misconduct- perhaps there needs to be people other than policemen who investigate Policemen. ( watch ‘to catch a copper’ it is not a positive documentary)

More than anything I think of how we ( women)have been brought up to be respectful and in particular respect the police
This case more than any others has made me question how I would respond to meeting a policeman. It’s ironic that at the end of the program they suggest that if this were to happen we should speak to the station or just run away. I wonder what the repsonse by the police is if women does follow this advice?

The idea that women shouldn’t be out walking after 9pm or whatever is infuriating. Women already make enough concessions to their freedoms, walking longer routes etc, risk assessing quieter areas , avoiding parks and alleyways, walking at full speed when they’d prefer a stroll.

I think of Sarah often, poor girl. The footage of him buying costa and phoning the vet was very disturbing.. so calm, it makes me wonder if this wasn't the first time he'd done it.
I lived in South London for years, I've been seriously assaulted by a man and my experience with the Met was not good.
I think it should become legal for women to carry mace, I always had hairspray and a lighter to hand, along with the keys between my fingers.

I was sexually harassed at a table in Greggs recently. It was 4.30pm I have a thread about it on the feminism board. Anyone would think it only happens at night if you follow their victim blaming advice

I watched this and found it incredibly disturbing.
Such misogyny. Such hatred for women.
The idea that sone fat, bald, ugly, married bloke is entitled to a woman’s body is what I believe it comes down to.
This message is everywhere. Games such as GTA. Porn. Vile men such as AT.
It’s revolting.
So glad that twat from North Yorkshire police was forced out.
And will people STOP talking about women walking alone.
Women and girls are routinely attacked and murdered in their own homes! We are not safe from shitty men anywhere.
And if anyone thinks of replying with NAMALT you can get fucked.

I had to turn it off.

I didn’t follow the case fully at the time.
Him actually buying petrol and burning her body. The piece of shit. Reminded me of Ian Huntley.
I hope both of these die soon and very painfully.

This is the point I had to hammer home to my DM who is quite liberal thinking, that she should be allowed to walk when and where she liked without fear of attack.

I’ve been attacked too by men. Luckily a good friend of mine was a detective and he told me what I could and couldn’t carry and what would be classed as a weapon. He said he’d like mace etc to be legalised.

Think it was Rhys Jones mum who shot down the wrong time wrong place saying...not a case of that it just shouldn't happen. Same with this and all murders really. Shouldn't happen.

If anything he was in the wrong place as really shouldn't have been free to roam!

Very disturbing. Can't help but think of my dd and the shitty world I bought her into. You just cant imagine being Sarah's mum. Or in fact the wife and child of that evil piece of shit. What a utter waste of oxygen. If there was ever a reason to bring back the death sentence it's for people like him. In fact I'm not a violent person but if someone handed me a gun with him in front of me and said "send a strong message to rapist shits" I'd probably blow his brains out before they could finish the sentence.

That was such a hard watch. So many missed opportunities that could have resulted in Sarah still being alive.
Her mums witness statement broke me again, as it did when it was first read after he was sentence.

Thank you for sharing this xxxx

No words after what I just watched

@LetsGoFlyAKiteee it's not the same!
Sarah was raped and killed by a serving policeman who abused his power to commit the crime!

It was a harrowing watch.

Every time I think of or see anything about Sarah’s case, I can’t get past the point where you know she must have realised she was in terrible danger, that something was horribly wrong. And how scared she must have been.

I don’t think a whole life order is enough, no punishment is enough for that monster.

I remember at the time press saying things like "she did everything right". Trainers. Bright clothes. Well lit footpaths. Called a friend.

The under tone being "those other women did something wrong". When of course they didn't.

Ever since this the Met have been priming us up that they are cracking down on these people.

David Carrick wasn't even initially suspended. Cliff Mitchell jailed now but had been previously investigated for rape.

I do think the authority element in the police must inherently be attractive to a certain type of offender. I wonder if it then almost encourages them to escalate their behaviour.

The most surprising thing about the documentary is how the police officers kept saying how surprised they were that it was a police man who was the suspect. Looking back three years on, why were they surprised? It would not have surprised me since I was 16, and a police officer threatened to strip search me for hitch hiking. Given how many policemen have been investigated since, it can't possibly have been that astonishing.

He really is the personification of evil.
I hope the prison officers can look the other way so the other prisoners can cut his nuts off, very slowly and painfully.