Police confirm body found in Kent woodland as missing woman Sarah Everard
Police have confirmed that the body found in a woodland in Kent on Wednesday belongs to the missing 33-year-old Sarah Everard from Brixton.
Two people were arrested earlier this week in connection with Everard’s disappearance, including a serving Metropolitan Police officer.
The male officer, who is aged in his 40s, was arrested on Tuesday evening on suspicion of kidnap and an unrelated offence of indecent exposure – he was rearrested the next day on suspicion of murder.
A woman in her 30s was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and remains in custody.
Ms Everard, 33, who disappeared last over a week ago, was walking home from a friend’s house in Leathwaite Road, Clapham.
She set off on foot for the 50 minute walk back to her flat between Tulse Hill and Brixton.
The last known sighting of her was on Poynders Road, part of the South Circular Road, which links the two areas, where she was captured on film by a private door camera as she walked alone from the junction at Cavendish Road in the direction of Tulse Hill.
Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: “I know that the public feel deeply hurt and angry and I speak on behalf of all my colleagues when I say that we too are horrified.
“I understand that women in London and the wider public, particularly those in the area where Sarah went missing, will be worried and may well be feeling frightened.
“Londoners are likely to continue to see extra officers on the streets in the coming days.”
Following the arrest of the police officer, the Metropolitan Police has made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The alleged indecent exposure happened on 28 February, at a fast food restaurant in South London.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said in a statement: “The IOPC has started an independent investigation into whether Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers responded appropriately to a report of indecent exposure.
“The IOPC’s investigation follows a conduct referral from the MPS in relation to two officers, received last night, which is linked to four other referrals.
“They are all connected to the arrest of a serving MPS officer on suspicion of kidnap, murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
“Our investigation will look at the actions of the MPS after police received a report on 28 February (2021) that a man had exposed himself at a fast food restaurant in South London.”
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