Sarah Everard’s murder at the hands of a serving police officer in March 2021 sent shockwaves through the capital – and the world. Five years on, women in London still feel the impact.
The premeditated killing occurred on her route home from Clapham to Brixton in South West London.
Wayne Couzens, who is currently serving a whole-life sentence after his conviction, had worked for the Metropolitan Police since 2018. He used his position to trick, abduct, and kill Sarah, profoundly shaking the public’s trust in the Met.
“Sarah Everard should still be here. What happened to her was a profound betrayal: of her, of her family and loved ones, and of every person who places their trust in policing”.
[CREDIT: BBC]
Speaking to British Vogue, Sarah’s mother Susan has remembered her daughter’s “goodness”.
“She was a loving and caring young woman; her many friendships are a testament to her lovely nature. She added to the beauty of the world.”
“The tip of the iceberg”
Concerns surrounding Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) remain acute in London.
Sophie Lennox from charity Everyone’s Invited told City News:
“The murder of Sarah Everard did not expose a single ‘bad apple’; it laid bare the systemic nature of violence against women and girls, and the institutional failures that allow misogyny and abuse to go unchecked.”
She argued that “meaningful change requires more than rhetoric. It demands sustained institutional accountability, proper resourcing of prevention work, and a national conversation that centres survivor voices.”
Last week, a City News exclusive revealed that the number of active investigations into rape and sexual offences in London has risen sharply over the past three years.
As of January 2026, there were almost 5,500 rape cases and 8,500 sexual offence cases pending an outcome.
Anne Kazimirski, a strategy consultant on violence against women, has warned that reported cases are “just the tip of the iceberg”.
“600 women have died at the hands of men in our country since Sarah Everard was killed.”
Writer, activist and co-founder of Reclaim These Streets Jamie Klingler told City News that not enough is being done to educate young men:
“I do not think we are doing what needs to be done to inform children and young men that they need to stop raping and killing us.”
“We were going to use education, legislation and community action to ensure that no woman needs to text when they get home. Five years on, I don’t think I’ll stop texting people when I get home in my lifetime”
Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said: “Five years on from Sarah Everard’s tragic murder, my thoughts today are with her family and all those who loved her.”
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has added that “the public deserve better from the Met and police forces across the country. There must be no hiding place for those who abuse their position of trust and authority within the police.”
A community vigil is set to take place this evening organised by Best of Clapham at Clapham Common bandstand.
It will feature words from Best of Clapham’s Klara Fine, and Rebecca Goshawk, Director of Business Development at Solace Women’s Aid.
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Headline‘Sarah Everard should still be here’: Five years on from the murder that shook London
Short Headline'Sarah Everard should still be here'
StandfirstThe Metropolitan Police chief admits a 'profound betrayal' after Sarah was abducted, raped, and murdered by an officer on her walk home in Clapham
Sarah Everard’s murder at the hands of a serving police officer in March 2021 sent shockwaves through the capital – and the world. Five years on, women in London still feel the impact.
The premeditated killing occurred on her route home from Clapham to Brixton in South West London.
Wayne Couzens, who is currently serving a whole-life sentence after his conviction, had worked for the Metropolitan Police since 2018. He used his position to trick, abduct, and kill Sarah, profoundly shaking the public’s trust in the Met.
“Sarah Everard should still be here. What happened to her was a profound betrayal: of her, of her family and loved ones, and of every person who places their trust in policing”.
[CREDIT: BBC]
Speaking to British Vogue, Sarah’s mother Susan has remembered her daughter’s “goodness”.
“She was a loving and caring young woman; her many friendships are a testament to her lovely nature. She added to the beauty of the world.”
“The tip of the iceberg”
Concerns surrounding Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) remain acute in London.
Sophie Lennox from charity Everyone’s Invited told City News:
“The murder of Sarah Everard did not expose a single ‘bad apple’; it laid bare the systemic nature of violence against women and girls, and the institutional failures that allow misogyny and abuse to go unchecked.”
She argued that “meaningful change requires more than rhetoric. It demands sustained institutional accountability, proper resourcing of prevention work, and a national conversation that centres survivor voices.”
Last week, a City News exclusive revealed that the number of active investigations into rape and sexual offences in London has risen sharply over the past three years.
As of January 2026, there were almost 5,500 rape cases and 8,500 sexual offence cases pending an outcome.
Anne Kazimirski, a strategy consultant on violence against women, has warned that reported cases are “just the tip of the iceberg”.
“600 women have died at the hands of men in our country since Sarah Everard was killed.”
Writer, activist and co-founder of Reclaim These Streets Jamie Klingler told City News that not enough is being done to educate young men:
“I do not think we are doing what needs to be done to inform children and young men that they need to stop raping and killing us.”
“We were going to use education, legislation and community action to ensure that no woman needs to text when they get home. Five years on, I don’t think I’ll stop texting people when I get home in my lifetime”
Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said: “Five years on from Sarah Everard’s tragic murder, my thoughts today are with her family and all those who loved her.”
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has added that “the public deserve better from the Met and police forces across the country. There must be no hiding place for those who abuse their position of trust and authority within the police.”
A community vigil is set to take place this evening organised by Best of Clapham at Clapham Common bandstand.
It will feature words from Best of Clapham’s Klara Fine, and Rebecca Goshawk, Director of Business Development at Solace Women’s Aid.
