Sarah Everard: Wayne Couzens presented with picture in March

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The Met has also pledged to publish a new strategy for tackling violence against women and girls, outlining how it will prioritise action against sexual and violent predatory offenders. The new strategy will accompany a Predatory Offender Units which, since last November, has resulted in the arrests of more than 2,000 suspects for domestic abuse, sex offences and child abuse.

The 650 new officers will be deployed into busy public places, “including those where women and girls often lack confidence that they are safe”, according to the force.

The Met has also promised to “step up” patrols and provide an increased police presence in areas identified as “hotspot” locations for violence and harassment.

Ms Everard was raped and killed by serving Metropolitan police officer Wayne Couzens. 

This is the most horrific of crimes, but we recognise this is part of a much bigger and troubling picture

Met Police spokesman

A Met Police spokesman said: “The full horrific details of Couzens’ crimes are deeply concerning and raise entirely legitimate questions.

“This is the most horrific of crimes, but we recognise this is part of a much bigger and troubling picture.

“There have been other horrific murders of women in public spaces, including the killings of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, and very recently of Sabina Nessa.

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“All of these bring into sharp focus our urgent duty to do more to protect women and girls.”

The spokesman added: “Understanding the concerns of women in London is really important to us and we are undertaking a range of activity so we can better listen and respond.”

As Couzens is though to have kidnapped Ms Everard by carrying out a false arrest using his warrant card, the Met has also issued advice to anyone who is concerned a police officer is not acting legitimately during an interaction.

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They recommend people ask where the officer’s colleagues are, where they have come from, why they are there, and exactly why they are stopping or talking to them.

They also suggest verifying the police officer by asking to hear their radio operator or asking to speak to the radio operator themselves.

Finally, the Met Police is advising people to shout out to a passer-by, run into a house, knock on a door, wave a bus down, or call 999 if they are unduly concerned.

The spokesman said: “We completely hear the legitimate concerns being raised and we know women are worried.

“All our officers are concerned about the impact of these horrific crimes on trust in the police and we want to do all we can to rebuild that trust.”

He added: “It is unusual for a single plain clothes police officer to engage with anyone in London.

“If that does happen, and it may do for various reasons, in instances where the officer is seeking to arrest you, you should then expect to see other officers arrive shortly afterwards.”

Speaking at a press briefing earlier, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: “We ask anyone in the service or any member of the public that might have any information about Couzens’ behaviour – either as an officer or member of the public – that might be relevant, please come forward.”

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin, who led the murder investigation, said she was unaware of any allegations against Couzens of such a serious nature.

But she said: “As you would expect, we have a number of inquiries ongoing to establish whether Wayne Couzens is responsible for any other offences.

“Thus far, there is nothing of the nature or seriousness of the offences for which he has been put in prison today.”

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