One of the women arrested at the Sarah Everard vigil in 2021 has lamented a High Court decision that some fear will see ‘predators’ return to the Metropolitan Police.
One of the force’s officers accused of rape won a High Court judicial review against his dismissal, meaning officers sacked because of unproven allegations of sexual and domestic abuse could return to work and claim millions in pay back.
The verdict has been met with criticism by the likes of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who said the decision “has significant implications for the work the Met is now doing to clean up the force”.
Speaking on GB News, Patsy Stevenson discussed the case of Wayne Couzens, who abused his power in 2021 as a Met Police officer to abduct, rape and murder 33-year-old Sarah Everard.
Patsy Stevenson fears more bad apples in the force
PA / GB NEWS
Stevenson was arrested at Everard’s vigil and awarded a payout by the force for its actions.
She fears the Met will not be able to fully rid itself of bad actors with a precedent now in place.
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Mark Rowley lamented the ruling
LONDON ASSEMBLY“It’s a bit ridiculous. I think unless the justice system works, we can’t do this. The majority of sexual assault allegations are so hard to prove that you could be putting police officers who have abused women back in the force with a warrant card, free to abuse women”, she said.
“I just can’t understand why this is happening. I think this is probably one of the only times where me and Mark Rowley are standing on the same side. That’s absolutely crazy.”
She called for a change in the justice system and expressed her outrage at one of the officers who arrested her achieving a promotion since the incident.
“Police aren’t held accountable for their actions”, she said.
Patsy Stevenson joined Miriam Cates on GB News
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“If Mark Rowley is saying they should be held to account, I would fully support something like that.
“I just don’t understand how people think that if it’s an allegation, it’s just an allegation.
“There’s no smoke without fire.”
The High Court ruled that the Metropolitan Police cannot dismiss officers by removing their vetting clearance.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley reacted strongly to the ruling, calling it "absolutely absurd" that officers could not be lawfully dismissed.
"Today's ruling on the law has left policing in a hopeless position," he said.
"We now have no mechanism to rid the Met of officers who were not fit to hold vetting."
Around 300 officers are currently under review through Operation Assure, with 107 already dismissed.
The Met will now face significant costs, with Rowley stating dismissed officers would be placed on special leave "at a cost of millions of pounds - a ridiculous waste of money."
The court heard Sgt Di Maria faced multiple allegations, including two rapes in public car parks and claims of domestic abuse, but an investigation found "no case to answer".
