Three Met Police officers who are alleged to have shared racist and sexist messages with Sarah Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens are now potentially facing charges.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider potential charges under the Communications Act related to “grossly offensive” material.
The messages in question were sent prior to Sarah Everard’s death, My London reports.
Two of the officers allegedly responsible for sending the messages are still serving, while the third has since resigned.
Investigating officers allegedly found the incriminating texts, sent between March and October 2019, on an old phone of Couzens'.
An IOPC spokesperson said: "Our investigation into the sending and sharing of inappropriate messages by officers on WhatsApp has been completed.
"We provided a file of evidence to the CPS in December to consider potential offences against three individuals under the Communications Act 2003. We await its decision."
Killer Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens is currently serving a full life term in HMP Frankland after he was found guilty of the rape and murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard.
Couzens, 48, staged a fake Covid arrest to abduct marketing executive Sarah Everard before raping and killing her in March 2021.
News of the investigation into officers who allegedly had sent incriminating messages to Couzens comes after Cressida Dick resigned as the commissioner of the Met Police just hours after she told BBC Radio London she had “absolutely no intention” of leaving the post.
She has faced mounting criticism and pressure to resign after officers at Charing Cross were found to have joked about rape, domestic violence and killing black children.
The Met's refusal to investigate parties at Downing Street and subsequent U-turn moments before Sue Gray’s was to be released only led to more fury and calls for her resignation.
However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan yesterday said he was "not satisfied" Dame Cressida could "root out the racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, discrimination and misogyny that still exist" in the force or restore Londoners' trust.
It is understood the mayor informed Dame Cressida she had lost his confidence and she resigned instead of attending a showdown meeting with him.
It has been agreed that Dame Cressida will continue to serve for a short period to enable an orderly handover.
