Sarah Everard, the York woman who was murdered at the hands of a serving Met Police officer, has been remembered five years after her death.
The tributes have been led by her mother, Susan Everard, who wrote a tribute piece for British Vogue, in which she remembered her daughter’s love of travel, dancing, and her sense of humour, as well as her principled nature.
Miss Everard was photographed by Vogue at V Festival in 2010, as part of a street fashion series by the magazine, something her mother said she was “thrilled” to feature in.
She wrote: “It was 2010 when the photograph was taken and, although it is bittersweet, I love to see her, happy and beautiful, with her whole life ahead of her.
“It was a golden time when she had recently graduated and was back home from travels to south-east Asia and already making plans for future adventures.”
She said the marketing executive had loved to travel, spending time in South America, South Africa and Nepal.
“She was interested in the world around her and made the most of life. There was a depth to her, she led her life with decency and integrity,” Mrs Everard wrote.
Ms Everard, a marketing executive, was raped and killed aged 33 by Wayne Couzens, who lured her into his car in south London by falsely arresting her during the pandemic.
Couzens is serving a whole life order for his crimes.
Campaigning charity Women’s Aid has said the Government and police must do more to protect girls and women from violence.
Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “Sarah’s murder, by a serving police officer, exposed the entrenched misogyny within the police force, leaving countless women fearful of those who are meant to protect them.
“Since that day, whilst some action has been taken to improve the police response to violence against women and girls, significantly more must be done, as the misogyny remains rooted and systemic.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “Sarah Everard should still be here.
“Five years have passed since her senseless and devastating murder.
“What happened to her was a profound betrayal: of her, of her family and loved ones, and of every person who places their trust in policing.”
He said the fact that she was killed by a serving police officer, Wayne Couzens, was “as devastating today as it was in 2021”.
“It was an unthinkable abuse of power and a total violation of the values that the Met, and policing stands for.
the powerful victim impact statement made by Ms Everard’s mother led to the unmasking of another predator hiding in the ranks of the Met.
One of the victims of David Carrick was moved to come forward and make a report to the police, which eventually led to his conviction as a serial rapist.
The cases led to two damning reviews – one a report by Baroness Louise Casey in March 2023 that found the Met was institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic.
Then an inquiry by Dame Elish Angiolini in February 2024 concluded that the Met and two other police forces could and should have stopped Couzens being a police officer.
