SARAH Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens was given the green light to join the Civil Nuclear Constabulary after Thames Valley Police carried out vetting checks on him in 2011.

The 48-year-old police constable, who was given a life sentence this month for Ms Everard’s abduction, rape and murder, joined the nuclear police that year – having previously served as a special constable with Kent Police.

Thames Valley Police was responsible then as now for carrying out recruitment vetting checks for the CNC, the organisation responsible for policing the UK’s nuclear power stations.

A Thames Valley spokesman said: “As requested by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Thames Valley Police carried out vetting checks on Wayne Couzens in 2011 in line with the national guidance at the time.

“We cannot release details of the vetting checks carried out on Couzens in 2011, as vetting is a confidential process.”

He said that Thames Valley does not make the decision about whether a candidate should be employed by the CNC and only provides a report and recommendation to the force.

In common with other police forces, Thames Valley was currently reviewing its vetting process in line following a request from the National Police Chiefs Council, he added.

Thames Valley Police's statement in full

 

“Thames Valley Police carry out vetting checks on behalf of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. Once those checks are made, Thames Valley Police provides a report and recommendations to the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. However, the decision as to whether to employ a candidate is made by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and not Thames Valley Police.

“As requested by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Thames Valley Police carried out vetting checks on Wayne Couzens in 2011 in line with the national guidance at the time.

“We cannot release details of the vetting checks carried out on Couzens in 2011, as vetting is a confidential process.”

Couzens faked the arrest of Ms Everard, 33, using his police-issue handcuffs and his Metropolitan Police warrant card to lure her into his hired van.

It emerged he had a troubling history. The Old Bailey was told that he had been involved in an ‘incident of a sexual nature’ in 2002. He was allegedly dubbed ‘the rapist’ by colleagues at the CNC and was accused of indecent exposure in Kent in 2015 and again in the capital days before he murdered Ms Everard.

Despite the allegations of wrongdoing, he passed Met Police vetting checks, joining the London force in 2018. He was allowed to continue working even though his car was linked to an allegation of flashing at a fast food restaurant in Kent 72 hours before Ms Everard was abducted. The Met said he was not subject to any misconduct proceedings at the time.

Earlier this month, Martin Hewitt of the National Police Chiefs Council said vetting procedures should be scrutinised.

He told the Press Association: “Whilst I have confidence in the processes that we have, the reality is that there are clearly issues that emerge from this specific case, so I think it warrants us looking again and working with those other bodies to ensure that we are learning every lesson that we can around not only the policies, but also the practice of how that vetting is taking place in individual forces.”

-

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on news@nqo.com or 01865 425 445.