The murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, who abducted her as she walked home in March 2021, was a watershed moment for the nation. In the wake of her death, thousands marched, protested and held vigils to honour her memory and demand justice, particularly from the Metropolitan police, who allowed Couzens to serve as an officer despite several ‘red flags’ regarding his behaviour.

Last week, the Angiolini inquiry’s report into the circumstances that led to Everard’s murder was published, concluding that Couzens “should never have been a police officer” as Everard’s family insisted that “Sarah died because he was a police officer – she would never have got into a stranger’s car”.

Now, the BBC’s harrowing new documentary Sarah Everard: The Search For Justice, made in close collaboration with the Everard family, delves deeper into the Met’s investigation into Everard’s murder, looking at how this devastating crime unfolded and the impact that was felt across the country.

The 75-minute documentary opens with CCTV footage of Everard’s last movements – a trip to Tesco, a walk along a well-lit street, a phone call with her boyfriend – before Couzens tricked her into his car using his warrant card. He would later drive her to Kent before raping and murdering her, for which he is currently serving a whole life sentence.

Told by those closely involved in the case from the outset, many of whom are speaking on camera for the first time, Sarah Everard: The Search For Justice is an important reflection on the extent of violence against women and girls in our society, an issue recently declared a national priority alongside terrorism and organised crime.

In the film, DCI Katherine Goodwin recalls the moment she found out Couzens was a police officer. “I knew that I had to tell my boss and I can just remember the shock of having to just sit on the floor of the office and say to her: ‘You’re not going to believe this; he’s a police officer,’” she tells the camera. 

Since Everard’s murder, hundreds of police officers continue to face sexual assault allegations, including one of the UK’s most prolific sex offenders, David Carrick, who abused his position over a twenty-year career in the Metropolitan police.

The narrative of ‘one bad apple’ has been well and truly destroyed, yet there still needs to be an increased focus on issues of women’s safety and abuse of power by police.

“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,” explains Emma Loach, BBC lead commissioning editor for documentaries. “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 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 5 March at 9pm

Images: BBC Studios; Getty