Sarah Everard: Priti Patel announces inquiry into 'systematic policing failures'

Ms Patel said there will be an inquiry into the “systematic failures” which enabled Wayne Couzens to continue to be employed as a police officer.

The Home Secretary said: “The public have a right to know what systematic failures enabled his continued employment as a police officer.

“We need answers as to why this was allowed to happen.

Home Secretary Priti Patel speaks at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Credit: PA

“I can confirm today there will be an inquiry, to give the independent oversight needed, to ensure something like this can never happen again.”

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Ms Patel claimed she had “redoubled” her efforts to help make women and girls safer.

She added: “All our thoughts remain with Sarah Everard’s family and friends.

“Her murderer, whose name I will not repeat, was a monster. His explicit intention was to instil fear and terror in women and girls.

“I say this as Home Secretary, but also as a woman – such unconscionable crimes and acts of violence against women and girls have no place in our society.

“That is why I have redoubled my efforts to ensure women and girls feel safer.”

Couzens, 48, was handed a whole life order for the “grotesque” killing of the 33-year-old marketing executive which shocked and outraged the nation.

Sentencing at the Old Bailey on Thursday, Lord Justice Fulford described the circumstances of the murder as “grotesque”.

Wayne Couzens was given a whole life sentence over kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard

He said the seriousness of the case was so “exceptionally high” that it warranted a whole life order.

A Met Police spokesman said: "The full horrific details of his 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.

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