A POLICE force who employed Sarah Everard's killer Wayne Couzens at the Sellafield site in Cumbria has said it 'deeply regrets' his service in the organisation, after a report was released highlighting failings made by a number of police forces in the years prior to Sarah's death.

Wayne Couzens joined the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) on March 7 2011 and left on September 9 2018. He left the CNC to transfer to the Metropolitan Police Service.

On joining the CNC, he served for eight months at Sellafield before transferring to the Dungeness site in Kent, where he was based for the rest of his service.

The Angiolini Inquiry launched its first reports yesterday, February 29, with the chair, Lady Elish Angiolini KC, calling for a 'radical overhaul' of police vetting and recruitment, and for a fundamental change to the police response to indecent exposure, saying these are the steps necessary to stop another Couzens 'operating in plain sight'.

The independent inquiry was established to understand how off-duty Metropolitan police officer Wayne Couzens was able to abduct, rape and murder Sarah Everard.

The first report, which looks at the facts and circumstances of Wayne Couzens’ career and the cultures in which he worked, concluded that 'he should never have been a police officer and that opportunities to stop him continuing his career and offending were missed'.

In particular, the report outlines how, when he applied to join the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Couzens’ financial position was not given proper consideration. Thames Valley Police, who did the vetting, recommended that Couzens should not pass vetting on the grounds of his financial situation - but this recommendation was not followed by the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

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In a statement following the release of the report, CNC Chief Constable Chesterman 'apologised unreservedly' for Couzens entry as a police officer and said his thoughts were with Sarah's family and other victims.

He said: "The case of Wayne Couzens shocked and appalled all of us who work at the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and has had far reaching consequences for UK society and policing. That a serving police officer should have committed such horrendous crimes by exploiting his occupation to approach his victim has left a lasting impact on us all.

"The publication of the Angiolini Inquiry shows that Couzens was a predatory sexual offender and that the police service as a whole has much work to do to strengthen police recruitment and vetting procedures.

"We share the revulsion and anger expressed by our colleagues in the Metropolitan Police towards his crimes. I will always deeply regret that Couzens served in our force.

"He was not fit to wear the uniform."

The Chief Constable said that any additional learning in the report would be implemented, and said much had been done over the last three years to improve vetting and standards.

He said: "Much progress has already been made; however, we accept there is much more to do to gain back the trust and respect of the public for policing, especially that of women and girls and we are committed to doing so."