Sarah Everard: Police say arrest is ‘serious development’

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They described the 33-year-old marketing executive as a “strong and principled” young woman who was a “shining example to us all”. Sarah’s parents Jeremy, 67, and Sue, 64, sister Katie and brother James issued the emotional statement as detectives continued to question a serving policeman over her suspected kidnap and murder. It was revealed the 48-year-old was rushed to hospital suffering from a head injury but was back in ­custody last night after treatment.

The Everard family tribute was released by Scotland Yard the day after human remains were found at a disused outdoor activity centre in Kent.

Formal identification has yet to take place, said police last night.

The statement said: “Our beautiful daughter Sarah was taken from us and we are appealing for any ­information that will help to solve this terrible crime.

“Sarah was bright and beautiful – a wonderful daughter and sister.

“She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.

“She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all. We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives.

“We would like to thank friends and family for their support during this awful time and would especially like to thank Sarah’s friends who are working tirelessly to help.

“We are so grateful to the police and would like to thank them for all they are doing.

“We are now pleading for additional help from the public. Please come forward and speak to the police if you have any information. No piece of information is too insignificant.”

It is not known how the suspect came to be injured and police would not comment.

One report said he was found unconscious in his cell suffering a “serious” injury.

It is understood he is now being checked regularly.

The policeman was questioned as it emerged CCTV and ­number plate recognition played a key role in the search for Sarah who went missing as she walked home to Brixton after visiting a friend in Clapham, south London, just over a week ago on Wednesday, March 3.

An application to extend the suspect’s custody was granted at London’s Wimbledon Magistrates Court ­yesterday afternoon.

A woman in her 30s arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender was bailed until mid-April.

Specially trained officers sifted through hundreds of hours of ­security camera footage in a quest for a suspected kidnapper and their vehicle.

It is understood images recorded by cameras on buses in and around Clapham Common provided crucial breakthroughs.

And by using number plate ­recognition technology, officers could track the movements of a car as it headed out of south London and into Kent.

Detectives are questioning the policeman on suspicion of murdering Sarah, originally from York.

The officer, a member of the armed ­diplomatic VIP protection squad, was initially arrested for kidnap on Tuesday.

He was arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure on Wednesday.

The father of two was detained at his home in Deal, Kent.

The £200,000 terraced property was still being searched yesterday.

Forensic officers were also scouring a disused outdoor activity centre in Great Chart, near Ashford, Kent, where “human remains” were found on Wednesday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ­yesterday: “I am shocked and ­deeply ­saddened by developments in the Sarah Everard investigation. 

“Like the whole country my thoughts are with her family and friends. We must work fast to find answers to this horrifying crime.”

Scotland Yard have declined to ­comment on details of the ­ongoing investigation.

But one crucial factor was a doorbell cam image of Sarah as she walked along the A205 Poynders Road – a busy bus route. A security camera at a ­property in a block of flats gave detectives a vital starting point for enquiries with a precise time and location.

A tech expert said: “After seizing that image, the investigation team had a focus for their subsequent appeals for footage from other cameras, fixed or on vehicles.”

Detectives are also checking ­telephones and computers accessed by the police officer. They have found no evidence of any prior connection between him and Sarah.

On the day she went missing he was working a 2pm to 8pm shift guarding the US Embassy at Nine Elms, south London.

A post mortem examination is being carried out to determine the cause and time of death of remains found on Wednesday.

Relatives have described Sarah as a strong and independent woman who was forging a career in digital marketing and someone who would always “be there” for her friends.

Met Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said her officers have been left “shell-shocked”.

She added: “Sarah’s disappearance in these awful and wicked circumstances is every family’s worst nightmare. This has sent waves of shock and anger through the public and the whole of the Met.

“I speak on behalf of all my ­colleagues when I say we are utterly appalled. Our job is to patrol the streets and protect people.”

Martin Hewitt, the chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, said: “Police officers join to keep people safe so news that a serving police officer has been arrested on suspicion of murder has sent shock, anger and sadness across policing.”

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