96-609: On the evening of 3 March 2021, 33-year-old Sarah Everard was kidnapped in South London , England, as she was walking home to the Brixton Hill area from a friend's house near Clapham Common . She was stopped by off-duty Metropolitan Police constable Wayne Couzens, who identified himself as a police officer, handcuffed her, and placed her in his car before transporting her to Kent . Couzens subsequently raped and strangled Everard, before burning her body and disposing of her remains in
192-450: A non-statutory inquiry headed by Lady Elish Angiolini into how he was permitted to work as a police officer for three separate forces despite his behaviour causing concern. In February 2024, Angiolini's report said that Couzens had a history of alleged sexual offending, that he should never have been a police officer, and that multiple forces missed "red flags" during his vetting processes. The report said his crimes were "the culmination of
288-538: A "scapegoat" for wider issues within the Metropolitan Police Service. On 15 November 2024, Myles McHugh, a serving Metropolitan Police officer, was dismissed for gross misconduct after having viewed confidential files related to Everard's murder without good cause. A tribunal also found Hannah Rebbeck and Mark Harper guilty of gross misconduct for the same reason. Rebbeck had already left the force but would have been dismissed if she were still serving. Harper
384-536: A Victorian bandstand and a large number of mature trees, including horse chestnuts and a significant avenue of London plane trees along Long Road. It is overlooked by a variety of buildings, including a number of Georgian and Victorian mansions. It also has Holy Trinity Clapham , an 18th-century Georgian church, important in the history of the evangelical Clapham Sect . Clapham Town comprises Clapham High Street and residential streets including Clapham Manor Street, home to Clapham Leisure Centre, as well as Venn Street with
480-462: A cinema, restaurants, and a food market held every weekend throughout the year. The neighbourhood, where used, derives its name from a tube station —it has no fixed boundary from the rest of Clapham. Taking any definition in informal use, it is predominantly mid-rise and low-rise residential land, and usually takes in major parts of the Common. Where regard to historic Clapham parish and some street signs
576-551: A controversial police response and four arrests for breaches of COVID-19 regulations . The murder gave rise to widespread debate about the role of police in British society and women's safety in the UK. On 8 June, Couzens pleaded guilty to Everard's kidnapping and rape. On 9 July, he pleaded guilty to her murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order on 30 September. A public inquiry chaired by Lady Elish Angiolini KC
672-480: A few people lighting candles. Camden councillor Angela Mason and others criticised the police handling of this small vigil, which included asking attendees and a local journalist to leave to comply with COVID-19 mass-gathering regulations. A vigil for Everard took place on Clapham Common on 13 March 2021. Throughout the early part of the day, hundreds of people attended to pay their respects. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge , attended, with Kensington Palace releasing
768-426: A final written warning valid for two years. On 23 May 2023, Samantha Lee, a former Metropolitan Police officer who was assigned to investigate two counts of indecent exposure committed by Couzens in the days prior to Sarah Everard's murder, was found guilty of gross misconduct for failing to properly investigate the incidents following a disciplinary hearing. Lee subsequently told BBC News she believed she had been made
864-522: A friend's house on Leathwaite Road near Clapham Junction , west of Clapham Common . She walked along the A205 South Circular Road across the common en route to her Brixton Hill home. She spoke to her boyfriend on her phone for about 15 minutes and agreed to meet him the next day. At 21:28, she was seen on doorbell camera footage on Poynders Road and four minutes later on the dashcam of a passing police car. At 21:34, Couzens, who had parked
960-415: A gang of Eastern Europeans had threatened him and his family, demanding he deliver "another girl" after underpaying a prostitute a few weeks before. A woman in her thirties was also arrested at the address on suspicion of assisting an offender but subsequently released without charge. On 10 March, the day Everard's remains were discovered, Couzens was re-arrested on suspicion of murder. On 11 March, Couzens
1056-593: A large builder's bag, approximately 100 metres (110 yd) from Couzens's plot. Police in Dover also searched the site of a former body repair garage, previously owned by Couzens's family, at the top of the White Cliffs . On 12 March, Everard's body was identified through dental records . Two days later, police focused a search operation around The Rope Walk in Sandwich, and cordoned off approximately 1 square mile (2.6 km) of
SECTION 10
#17331064995551152-598: A petrol container at a service station in Whitfield . He then returned to Hoad's Wood, where his car was captured on CCTV at 12:37, and burned Everard's body inside a refrigerator. At 13:47 he bought two large builder's bags from B&Q before returning to Hoad's Wood on 7 March, where he used one of the bags to dispose of Everard's remains in a pond. On 8 March, he reported himself ill from work, handing in his equipment including his police belt and handcuffs. At 16:20 on 10 March, police searching Hoad's Wood found human remains in
1248-537: A police officer on three occasions. He was employed as a special constable with Kent Police in 2006, and was discharged from the Territorial Army the following year for failing to fulfil training obligations. In late 2010, Couzens was vetted for recruitment to the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC). In early 2011 he resigned from Kent Police, and took up the role of authorised firearms officer with
1344-432: A police officer with the power to make arrests), and could also leave people facing charges of resisting arrest . North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott faced calls to resign and was criticised for victim blaming after suggesting similarly, stating that women needed to learn more about the law and needed to be "streetwise about when they can be arrested and when they can't be arrested." Following
1440-504: A pond in woodland. On 9 March, Couzens was arrested in Deal , first on suspicion of Everard's kidnapping , and a day later on suspicion of her murder . Everard's remains were discovered in a densely wooded area near Ashford on 10 March; following their identification, Couzens was charged with her kidnapping and murder. Vigils were held for Everard on the evening of 13 March. The vigil on Clapham Common, near where she had been kidnapped, led to
1536-421: A population of 1,329,000. This definition is used by organisations such as Connexions . Between 2008 and 2011 it was replaced with a South East sub-region consisting of Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley and Bromley and a South West sub-region consisting of Croydon, Kingston, Lambeth, Merton, Sutton, Richmond and Wandsworth. In 2011 a new south London region was created consisting of Bromley, Croydon,
1632-524: A public communications network . Cobban and Borders were part of a WhatsApp group chat with Couzens and another officer where they sent racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and ableist messages. In April 2023, it was reported that Couzens could be entitled to a police pension worth £7,000 a year. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan , who had previously and successfully applied to have Couzens stripped of his Metropolitan Police pension, said he may be entitled to pensions from his pre-Met service. Couzens's crimes led to
1728-528: A report commissioned by the government after the murder, finding "inconsistencies at every level in how the police respond to VAWG and victims" and that there needed to be a "radical refocus and shift in the priority given to VAWG offences". On 9 October 2021 it was reported that BT chief executive Philip Jansen had outlined plans for Walk Me Home , a phone service designed to protect lone women as they walk home. The service would allow users to be tracked using GPS , and send out alerts to emergency contacts and
1824-575: A statement saying that the Duchess "remembers what it was like to walk around London at night before she was married". She was later reported to have sent a personal letter to Everard's family to express "her sadness and sympathy". The direct action group Sisters Uncut encouraged people to attend "with your sadness and your rage". By 18:00, a crowd of several hundred had congregated at the park's bandstand to hear speeches from Sisters Uncut. Four people were arrested for public-order offences and for breaching
1920-486: A trajectory of sexually motivated behaviour and offending", and made sixteen recommendations designed "to ensure that everything possible is being done to prevent those entrusted with the power of the office of constable from abusing that power." Following the inquiry, Home Secretary James Cleverly announced that police officers charged with "certain offences" would be automatically suspended from duty. The government had already announced in 2023 that officers found guilty of
2016-437: A unanimous vote of no confidence on 14 October, Allott initially refused to resign, stating that he wished to "rebuild trust and confidence in [his] work as commissioner". That afternoon, he announced his resignation and apologised for his remarks. The British government also came under criticism for its response to the murder, notably for proposing extra powers and funding to the police, which critics took issue with as Couzens
SECTION 20
#17331064995552112-622: A viable sanitary authority and the parish was grouped into the Wandsworth District , electing 18 members to the Wandsworth District Board of Works. In 1889 the parish was transferred to the County of London and in 1900 it became part of the new Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth . It was abolished as a civil parish in 1904, becoming part of the single Wandsworth Borough parish for poor law. The former Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth
2208-492: Is believed that he raped Everard at some point between midnight and 01:45. At 02:34, Couzens purchased drinks from a Dover petrol station; it is likely that he had strangled Everard using his police duty belt by this time. Couzens then drove to Hoad's Wood near Ashford , where he owned a plot of land. His car was captured on CCTV in the area between 03:22 and 06:32 before driving back to Dover to switch back into his rental car before returning it at 08:26. After Couzens returned
2304-440: Is had, this area includes a detached part : the land bounded by Nightingale Square, Oldridge Road and Balham Hill. Clapham North lies on either side of Clapham Road and borders the relatively modern creation 'Stockwell' in the historic Lambeth parish on Union Road and Stirling Road. There is a "Stockwell Town" Partnership sign north of Union Road demarcating the boundary between Clapham and Stockwell. The northern part of Clapham in
2400-533: Is made up of three Lambeth wards: Clapham Common and Abbeville , Clapham Town and Clapham East . Parts of the Clapham East ward like in neighbouring Stockwell Much of southern Battersea is often incorrectly referred to as Clapham, because of the name of Clapham Junction railway station , and to stress Battersea's proximity to Clapham Common, as well as their relative distance from Battersea's historic nucleus . The railway station now known as Clapham Junction
2496-640: Is now placed by the entrance of the former Clapham Library, in the Old Town.) According to the history of the Clapham family, maintained by the College of Heralds , in 965 King Edgar of England gave a grant of land at Clapham to Jonas, son of the Duke of Lorraine, and Jonas was thenceforth known as Jonas "de [of] Clapham". The family remained in possession of the land until Jonas's great-great grandson Arthur sided against William
2592-608: Is the southern part of Greater London , England , south of the River Thames . The region consists of the boroughs , in whole or in part, of Bexley , Bromley , Croydon , Greenwich , Kingston , Lambeth , Lewisham , Merton , Richmond , Southwark , Sutton and Wandsworth . South London originally emerged from Southwark , first recorded as Suthriganaweorc , meaning 'fort of the men of Surrey '. From Southwark , London then extended further down into northern Surrey and western Kent . South London began at Southwark at
2688-637: Is very similar to the thinking process of someone who then would later go on to abduct, kidnap, rape or murder somebody". Country-wide vigils to be held on Saturday, 13 March 2021 were organised by a newly formed campaign group, Reclaim These Streets . The day before the vigils were due to take place, a message was sent to all police chiefs that made it clear that, because of the COVID risk, Patel wanted them to stop people gathering at vigils; she also promised she would personally urge people not to gather. Talks between organisers and police broke down; The police had advised
2784-574: The Coronavirus Act 2020 . The Metropolitan Police's decision to break up the crowd, and the arresting of attendees and the trampling of the flowers they had laid, prompted public anger. Sir Keir Starmer , the leader of the Labour Party , called the police response "deeply disturbing"; Boris Johnson said he was "deeply concerned" by footage of the events. Khan called the police actions and arrests "neither appropriate nor proportionate". Sir Ed Davey ,
2880-478: The University of Portsmouth , stated that studies suggest that up to 10% of men who commit indecent exposure later commit physical sexual offences, and that if indecent exposure was taken seriously there would have been an opportunity for intervention with Couzens prior to Everard's murder. Fiona Vera-Gray, deputy director of the child and woman abuse studies unit at London Metropolitan University , said that because of
2976-869: The abolition of slavery and child labour , and for prison reform . They also promoted missionary activities in Britain's colonies . The Society for Missions to Africa and the East (as the Church Mission Society was first called) was founded on 12 April 1799 at a meeting of the Eclectic Society , supported by members of the Clapham Sect, who met under the guidance of John Venn , the Rector of Clapham. By contrast, an opponent of Wilberforce, merchant and slave-trader George Hibbert also lived at Clapham Common, worshipping in
Murder of Sarah Everard - Misplaced Pages Continue
3072-574: The leader of the Liberal Democrats , repeated calls for Dick to resign. Dick declined and dismissed criticism of the police response. Assistant Commissioner Helen Ball said the action was necessary because "hundreds of people were packed tightly together, posing a very real risk of easily transmitting COVID-19", and the Metropolitan Police Federation said that 26 police officers were assaulted. South London South London
3168-630: The CNC. He transferred to the Metropolitan Police (Met) in September 2018, working as a police constable and firearms officer. In February 2020 Couzens was assigned to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP) branch, the division responsible for uniformed protection of government and diplomatic premises. Couzens had not undergone enhanced vetting as part of his recruitment nor had he gone through
3264-518: The COVID-19 lockdown and for their failure to prevent the murder: not only did Kent Police not take any action after an alleged incident of indecent exposure in 2015, but Couzens had faced at least two other accusations of indecent exposure that had not been properly investigated and he had been involved in an incident in 2002 that was missed in his vetting. In early October 2021, it was reported that Couzens's colleagues had once been forced to call him back to
3360-483: The Clapham omnibus ". By the 1980s, the area had undergone a further transformation, becoming the centre for the gentrification of most of the surrounding area. Clapham's relative proximity to traditionally expensive areas of central London led to an increase in the number of middle-class people living in Clapham. Today the area is generally an affluent place, although many of its professional residents live relatively close to significant pockets of social housing. Clapham
3456-771: The Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of 1066 and, losing the land, fled to the north (where the Clapham family remained thereafter, primarily in Yorkshire ). Clapham's name derives from Old English , meaning 'homestead or enclosure near a hill', with the first recorded usage being Cloppaham circa 880. Clapham appears in Domesday Book as Clopeham . It was held by Goisfrid (Geoffrey) de Mandeville, and its domesday assets were three hides , six ploughs , and 5.0 acres (2.0 ha) of meadow . It rendered £7 10s 0d, and
3552-618: The Larkhall ward includes the Sibella conservation area . The southern part is Ferndale ward and includes Landor, Ferndale and Bedford roads leading up to Brixton. As well as an extensive bus network, which connects the area with much of south and central London, Clapham has three tube stations and two railway stations. There are two railway stations in the district on London Overground 's East London line : London Underground's Northern line passes through Clapham, with three stations: In 2012,
3648-520: The Met responds when things go wrong." On 3 October, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that the government would not undertake an immediate public inquiry into the case; Patel later announced that an inquiry would investigate the "systematic failures" in allowing Couzens to continue working as a police officer following the incidents of reported indecent exposure. The police force announced Baroness Casey of Blackstock would lead an independent enquiry in which
3744-401: The Met stated that people should consider "shouting out to a passerby, running into a house, knocking on a door, waving a bus down or, if you are in the position to do so, calling 999 " if they felt uncomfortable when being stopped by a single police officer. The Met received criticism for the statement, with commentators arguing that this would not have prevented Everard's murder (as Couzens was
3840-504: The Met would launch a review of professional standards and internal culture, writing, "I hope to announce a high-profile figure will be appointed to lead a review of our professional standards and internal culture. They will look at our training, leadership, processes, systems and standards of behaviour, and examine cases where officers have let the public down. This person will also work alongside me, challenging my senior team and our leadership on standards, corruption, sexual misconduct and how
3936-519: The Metropolitan Police's recruitment, training and vetting would be examined. A second enquiry would investigate cases where allegations of sexual misconduct or domestic abuse were made against police officers or members of staff, who still work in the force. A YouGov poll released in November 2021 found that 76% of women believed police culture had to change and 47% of women had decreased trust in
Murder of Sarah Everard - Misplaced Pages Continue
4032-466: The Old Bailey on 29 September 2021 following medical and psychiatric reports. Couzens's barrister, Jim Sturman QC , asked Fulford to consider imposing a life sentence with a determinate tariff which would allow Couzens to become eligible for release on licence in his 80s. On 30 September, Couzens was sentenced to life imprisonment with a tariff of a whole life order , with Fulford justifying the severity of
4128-430: The Old Bailey, Cressida Dick – the then Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police – said she felt "sickened, angered and devastated" by Couzens's crimes, adding: "They are dreadful and everyone in policing feels betrayed. Sarah was a fantastic, talented young woman with her whole life ahead of her and that has been snatched away." The sentencing hearing before Lord Justice Fulford , began at
4224-509: The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames, Merton, Sutton, Wandsworth, Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham. South London is, like other parts of London and the UK in general, a temperate maritime climate according to the Köppen climate classification system . Three Met Office weather stations currently collect climate data south of the river; Kew, Hampton and Kenley Airfield, on
4320-609: The Thames. Often snow can be seen to lie on the North Downs near Croydon when central London is snow free. The record high temperature at Greenwich is 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) recorded during August 2003. Sunshine is notably lower than other London area weather stations (by about 50–100 hours a year), suggesting Greenwich may be a fog trap in winter, and that the hillier land to the south may obscure early morning and late evening sunshine. The highest temperature recorded across south London
4416-521: The Tower' (East London) . The area now usually referred to as North London developed later. As late as the mid 18th century, however, there were no other bridges crossing the river and as a result urban growth was considerably slower in the south than in areas north of the Thames . The opening of Westminster Bridge and other subsequent bridges to the west encouraged growth in the south-west, but only Tower Bridge
4512-477: The UK to train people to intervene in stop and searches and other potentially dangerous police arrests. The Guardian stated in an editorial that "there is no sign that the Met understands the profound crisis of faith that it faces", pointing to a tribunal case related to the UK undercover policing relationships scandal that was resolved in the same week as Couzens's sentencing. On 4 October 2021, Dick announced that
4608-458: The Vauxhall on the pavement outside Poynders Court, stopped Everard and showed her his police warrant card before handcuffing her. The trial judge later said that he had probably claimed that he was arresting her for having breached COVID guidelines . Couzens and Everard were twice captured by bus CCTV ; the first instance at 21:35 showed them beside the hired Vauxhall and the second, at 21:38, showed
4704-455: The Vauxhall's number plate . Around this time, Couzens and Everard entered the car and Couzens drove to Kent; the route of the car was retrospectively tracked using CCTV and ANPR . By 23:43, Couzens and Everard were in Dover and had transferred to Couzens's personal SEAT car. Between 23:53 and 00:57 on 4 March, Couzens's mobile phone connected to cell sites in the Shepherdswell area; it
4800-637: The Vikings. Southwark was also known as the Borough due to be it being an incorporated (nationally represented) Borough from 1295. From 1550 to 1899 it was administered as part of the City of London and referred to as the ward of Bridge Without . In 1720, John Strype's 'Survey of London' described Southwark as one of the then four distinct areas of London; in it he describes the City of London , Westminster (West London) , Southwark (South London) , and 'That Part Beyond
4896-429: The area. The 12 boroughs included, in whole or part are: (Outer London for statistics) A small area of land, on which the southern end of Blackfriars Bridge stands, is not part of Southwark. It forms part of the City of London , a sui generis local authority which is mainly located north of the Thames. The term 'south London' has been used for a variety of formal purposes with the boundaries defined according to
SECTION 50
#17331064995554992-524: The disciplinary charge of "gross misconduct" would also be subject to automatic suspension. On 11 March 2021, the Home Secretary , Priti Patel , released a statement saying that "every woman should feel safe to walk on our streets without fear of harassment or violence", and Sadiq Khan stated that London streets are not safe for women or girls. Patel announced that new laws are being considered to protect women against sexual harassment in public , including
5088-425: The exception of the north aisle which was left standing for the performance of burials, taken down under an act of parliament in 1774. A new church, Holy Trinity , was erected in the following year at an expense of £11,000 (equivalent to £1,748,234 in 2023), on the north side of the common. In the late 17th century, large country houses began to be built there, and throughout the 18th and early 19th century it
5184-400: The explorer. She lived in a house at 136 Clapham High Street for many years following the death of her husband. Other notable residents of Clapham Common include Palace of Westminster architect Sir Charles Barry , Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg and 20th century novelist Graham Greene . John Francis Bentley , architect of Westminster Cathedral , lived in the adjacent Old Town. In
5280-537: The first half of the 20th century, towns in the Home Counties such as Kingston, Croydon and Bromley gradually coalesced with South London, until Greater London was formed in 1965. A significant feature of south London's economic geography is that while there are more than thirty bridges linking the area with West London and the City , there is only one, Tower Bridge , linking the area with East London . Very little of London's underground rail network lies south of
5376-418: The hire car, he drove his personal car to Sandwich , Kent, disposing of Everard's mobile phone in one of the town's watercourses at 09:21. Later that day, Everard's boyfriend contacted the police after she did not meet him. In the days after the murder, Couzens told senior colleagues that he was suffering from stress and no longer wanted to carry a gun. On 5 March, shortly after 11:00, Couzens bought and filled
5472-456: The large Queen Anne-, Regency- and Georgian-era homes of the Old Town and Clapham Common, to the grids of Victorian housing in the Abbeville area. As in much of London, the area also includes social housing on estates dating from the 1930s and 1960s. In the early 20th century, Clapham was seen as an ordinary commuter suburb, often cited as representing ordinary people: hence the familiar " man on
5568-536: The late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Clapham Sect were a group of wealthy City merchants (mostly evangelical Anglican ) social reformers who lived around the Common. They included William Wilberforce , Henry Thornton and Zachary Macaulay , father of the historian Thomas Macaulay , as well as William Smith Member of Parliament (MP), the Dissenter and Unitarian . They were very prominent in campaigns for
5664-795: The mandatory two-year probation period with the Met before joining the PaDP. On 28 February 2021, Couzens booked a white Vauxhall Crossland from a vehicle hire company in Dover. At 07:00 GMT on 3 March, he completed a 12-hour shift at the US Embassy in London before travelling to Kent to collect the hire car. He then drove back to London where he was recorded as being in Earl's Court and on Battersea Bridge . After arriving in Clapham , he again drove to Earl's Court before returning to Clapham at 21:23. At around 21:00, Everard left
5760-505: The murder. Andrea Simon of the End Violence Against Women Coalition stated that "the measures that could make a difference and the resourcing are not where they need to be." Reports of women killed by serving or former police officers in the UK since 2009 indicate that they are usually partners, unlike in this case. On 17 September 2021, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services published
5856-416: The neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth . The present day Clapham High Street is on the route of a Roman road . The road is recorded on a Roman monumental stone found nearby. According to its inscription, the stone was erected by a man named Vitus Ticinius Ascanius. It is estimated to date from the 1st century AD. (The stone was discovered during building works at Clapham Common South Side in 1912. It
SECTION 60
#17331064995555952-696: The organisers that it would be considered an illegal gathering under COVID‑19 pandemic restrictions and the court refused a request to intervene in the police decision. Events planned for Edinburgh and Cardiff were officially cancelled in favour of online events. Cambridge also was scheduled to go online. Vigils still took place in several cities, including Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Nottingham, Liverpool and Sheffield. Small gatherings also took place at locations in London. One on Highbury Fields attracted about 50 participants. Another in Russell Square , although also officially cancelled, saw
6048-537: The police following Everard's murder. Simon Kempton, a police officer on secondment to the Police Federation , shared information about Couzens's defence with other police officers via social media messages. Kempton had received the information from a journalist who had witnessed Couzens's trial via video link, and passed it on to Kempton before it could legally be published. Kempton was found guilty of professional misconduct "concerning respect and courtesy" and given
6144-495: The police had laughed at her. Police culture in the UK also came under criticism. An officer who had been a part of the search for Everard was suspended from duties after sharing an inappropriate graphic on social media, five officers were placed under investigation for sharing grossly offensive material with Couzens before he committed the murder, and several officers were criticised for giving character references for Couzens during his sentencing hearings. Several female officers told
6240-464: The police if they did not arrive at their destination when expected. The service would be activated by dialing a number, with 888 proposed as the number users would need to call. The proposal was supported by Home Secretary Priti Patel . As of June 2022, the service had yet to be implemented, nor had a timeframe for its implementation been released. In April 2023, BT confirmed that the proposed service had been cancelled. Jennifer Grant, criminologist at
6336-573: The postal system, Clapham fills most of SW4 and as defined, at least since the Norman Conquest until 1885, includes parts of SW8, SW9 and SW12, London. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth (the border between the two boroughs runs across the common), but Lambeth has responsibility for its management. According to the 2011 census, the Clapham Area has a population of 40,850. For administrative and electoral purposes, Clapham
6432-481: The potential of making public harassment a specifically defined crime. On 16 July, the Metropolitan Police held an in-camera disciplinary hearing at which Couzens was dismissed from the service with immediate effect. The Met later announced that it would stop deploying lone plainclothes officers. The case sparked debate surrounding the role of police in UK society and police violence . The police were criticised both for their crackdown on vigils for Everard during
6528-460: The press that they did not feel as if they could report concerning behavior by male colleagues. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into whether two officers had responded appropriately to reports from 28 February that Couzens had indecently exposed himself at a branch of McDonald's in Swanley , Kent; he had been questioned about these allegations days before he
6624-518: The punishment by saying that Couzens's use of his position as a police officer to detain Everard was the "vital factor which in my view makes the seriousness of this case exceptionally high". In October 2021 it was reported that Couzens was applying for leave to appeal against his sentence. In July 2022, his appeal against his whole-life sentence was rejected by the Court of Appeal . As of December 2021, Couzens
6720-463: The purposes of the designation. In 2017 the government asked the Boundary Commission for England to reconsider the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies. The commission's study, was to start with existing regions of England and then group the local authorities within that area into sub-regions for further sub-division. The south London sub-region included the 11 boroughs which lay south of
6816-525: The river, largely due to the challenging geology; however, 21st-century technology makes tunnelling much cheaper (though stations are still expensive) and this may lead to an improved underground provision in south London with the Crossrail 2 line proposed alongside extensions to the Northern and Bakerloo Lines . South London contains an extensive overground rail network and all of London's trams operate within
6912-507: The river, plus the parts of cross-river Richmond upon Thames that did so. An earlier 2013 study, whose recommendations were not adopted, took a different approach by including all of Richmond in its south London sub-region. For the purposes of progress reporting on the London Plan , there was a south London sub-region in operation from 2004 to 2008 consisting of Bromley, Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton. In 2001 this area had
7008-582: The same church, Holy Trinity. In 1848, Clapham was described in the Topographical Dictionary of England as a village which "has for many years, been one of the most respectable in the environs of the metropolis ". At this time, the patronage of Holy Trinity church belonged to the Atkins family . After the coming of the railways , Clapham developed as a suburb for commuters into central London. Clapham High Street railway station opened in 1862 and
7104-444: The southern edge of the urban area. Long term climate observations dating back to 1763 are available for Greenwich, although observations ceased here in 2003. Temperatures increase towards the Thames, firstly because of the urban warming effect of the surrounding area, but secondly due to altitude decreasing towards the river, meaning the southern margins of south London are often a couple of degrees cooler than those areas adjacent to
7200-566: The southern end of London Bridge , the first permanent crossing over the river, with early development of the area being a direct result of the existence and location of the bridge . Southwark was first known as Suthriganaweorc , the fortress of the men of Surrey , mentioned in the Burghal Hidage as part of military system created by Alfred the Great to defeat the Great Heathen Army of
7296-506: The station from patrol after a prostitute had visited the station demanding money from him. In mid-October, it was reported that police were investigating claims that Couzens had sexually assaulted a drag queen at a pub in Deal in 2018. Radio presenter Emma B also came forward to say that she had attempted to report Couzens in 2008, after he exposed himself to her in an alley in Greenwich , but that
7392-541: The time of her death, Everard lived in the Brixton Hill area and worked as a marketing executive for a digital media agency. Wayne Couzens (born 20 December 1972 in Dover , Kent) was educated at Castlemount School, Dover. After taking GCSEs, Couzens worked as a mechanic in his family's garage. He enlisted as a private with the Territorial Army in 2002, and over the following four years he unsuccessfully applied to become
7488-580: The town. On 16 March, police continued to comb woodland in Kent and police divers in Sandwich searched underwater for Everard's mobile phone. Everard's funeral took place on 22 May at Heslington Church in Heslington , near York. The results of a post-mortem held at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford were released on 1 June. It concluded that Everard had died from compression of the neck . On 9 March 2021, Couzens
7584-417: The underground City and South London Railway was extended to the area in 1900. By 1900 Clapham had fallen from favour with the upper classes. Many of their grand houses had been demolished by the middle of the 20th century, though a number remain around the Common and in the Old Town, as do a substantial number of fine late 18th- and early 19th-century houses. Today's Clapham is an area of varied housing, from
7680-421: The underreporting of indecent exposure, criminal justice statistics do not accurately demonstrate its prevalence and most offenders are not convicted. Like Grant, Vera-Gray highlighted connections between non-contact and contact offending, saying that society and the criminal justice system "need[s] to do more to understand that the thinking process of the mind of somebody who would drive around and expose themselves
7776-586: Was 38.1 °C (100.6 °F) on the same occasion at Kew Gardens. Although the Met Office accepts a higher reading from Brogdale in Kent, many have questioned the accuracy of this and regard the Kew reading as the most reliable highest UK temperature reading. Clapham Clapham ( / ˈ k l æ p əm / ) is a district in south west London , England, lying mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth , but with some areas (including Clapham Common ) extending into
7872-608: Was a police officer. The government had announced it would spend an additional £ 25 million on street lighting and CCTV cameras as well as launch a pilot scheme to send undercover police into bars and clubs, and was advancing the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill before Parliament, which would give police broad authority to place restrictions on protests and public assembly. Cressida Dick faced calls to resign. After Couzens's sentencing, direct action group Sisters Uncut announced that they would be launching "Copwatch" groups across
7968-483: Was accused of Everard's murder. The IOPC also reported that it was investigating whether Kent police had properly investigated allegations of indecent exposure against Couzens made in 2015, when he was employed as an armed officer by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary . On 9 July, the IOPC announced that it had served 12 misconduct notices on officers in regards to the investigation. On 30 September 2021, after Couzens's sentencing,
8064-603: Was an ancient parish in the county of Surrey. For poor law purposes the parish became part of the Wandsworth and Clapham Union in 1836. The parish was added to the Registrar General London Metropolis area in 1844 and consequently it came within the area of responsibility of the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1855. The population of 16,290 in 1851 was considered too small for the Clapham vestry to be
8160-476: Was arrested at his home in Deal on suspicion of kidnapping. Police arrived at his house at 17:45 and arrested Couzens at 19:47. Around 40 minutes before he was arrested, Couzens tried to wipe the data from his mobile phone. When interviewed, he claimed initially not to recognise Everard after being shown a photograph of her. He then claimed to be having financial problems after paying for sex in Folkestone , and that
8256-535: Was built to the east of London Bridge , so south-east London grew more slowly, at least until the Surrey Commercial Docks were built. The development of a dense network of railway lines in the mid nineteenth century significantly accelerated growth. The County of London was formed in 1899, which incorporated these boroughs south of the river: Wandsworth, Lambeth, Battersea, Camberwell, Southwark, Bermondsey, Deptford, Lewisham, Greenwich and Woolwich. During
8352-695: Was commissioned to investigate how Couzens was permitted to serve as a police officer despite an extensive history of alleged sexual offences. The first part of the report, published in February 2024, found that Couzens had a history of alleged sexual offending and that failings in the vetting process allowed him to become a police officer. Sarah Everard was born in Surrey in 1987. She grew up in York , where she attended Fulford School . She studied Human Geography at St Cuthbert's Society , Durham University , from 2005 to 2008. At
8448-452: Was divided in 1965 and the area of the historic parish of Clapham was transferred to the London Borough of Lambeth , along with Streatham . Clapham gave its name to a Parliamentary constituency between 1885 and 1974. Between 1974 and 2024 Clapham was divided between the constituencies of Streatham and Vauxhall . From the 2024 General Election Clapham's wards are reunited in the new constituency of Clapham & Brixton . Translated to
8544-528: Was favoured by the wealthier merchant classes of the City of London , who built many large and gracious houses and villas around Clapham Common and in the Old Town. Samuel Pepys spent the last two years of his life in Clapham, living with his friend, protected at the Admiralty and former servant William Hewer , until his death in 1703. Clapham was also home to Elizabeth Cook , the widow of Captain James Cook
8640-399: Was given a final written warning. The case led to widespread debate about women's safety and violence against women in the UK. After the murder, the British government reopened its public consultation on its violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy, receiving an additional 160,000 responses in two weeks. However, some feminist campaigners argued that not enough changed in the wake of
8736-504: Was hospitalised following a head injury sustained in custody; he was again briefly hospitalised the following day after a similar injury. After the incident on 11 March, police said the injury was sustained while he was alone in his cell. Couzens was charged with Everard's kidnapping and murder on 12 March, following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service . He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 13 March and
8832-684: Was imprisoned at HM Prison Frankland in County Durham. In March 2022, Couzens was further charged with four counts of indecent exposure related to alleged incidents in January and February 2021. In February 2023, Couzens pleaded guilty to three incidents of indecent exposure that took place in Kent in 2020 and 2021. A further three counts were ordered to lie on file . In November 2022, two of Couzens's colleagues – PC Jonathon Cobban and former PC Joel Borders – were jailed for multiple counts of sending grossly offensive messages on
8928-490: Was located in Brixton hundred . The parish comprised 1,233 acres (499 ha). The benefice remains to this day a rectory, and in the 19th century was in the patronage of the Atkins family: the tithes were commuted for £488 14s. in the early 19th century, and so the remaining glebe comprised only 11 acres (4.5 ha) as of 1848. The church, on the site of the current St Paul's and belonging to Merton Priory was, with
9024-422: Was originally named Battersea Junction by its architect to reflect its geographical location. According to the 2021 census, Clapham has a population of 48,478. White is the largest ethnic group, at 64% of the population, followed by 19% Black. Clapham is home to one of the largest Australian communities in London. Clapham Common comprises 220 acres of green space, criss-crossed by footpaths, with three ponds,
9120-528: Was remanded in custody before appearing at the Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh Prison on 16 March. On 8 June 2021, Couzens pleaded guilty to kidnap and rape, and admitted responsibility for Everard's death. Pending medical reports into his mental health at the time of Everard's death, Couzens did not enter a plea on the charge of murder. At a hearing on 9 July, Couzens pleaded guilty to murder. On video link from Belmarsh Prison, he kept his head down and
9216-423: Was shaking slightly. He and the victim were "complete strangers" prior to her abduction. After the plea hearing, it was reported that Kent Police had received a report in 2015 of a man in a car in Dover, naked from the waist down. It was believed there may have been enough information recorded in the Kent police system to have identified the man as Couzens, who was a serving police officer at the time. Speaking outside
#554445