Sarah Everard: more than 30 Met Police officers and staff ‘investigated for looking-up details of case’

More than 30 Met Police officers and civilian staff could be disciplined for searching details about the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard, according to reports.

Sarah disappeared while walking home to Brixton from a friend’s apartment in Clapham on the evening of 3 March.

Her body was found just over one week later by police searching woodland near Ashford, Kent.

Couzens was arrested and charged with her abduction and murder on 13 March.

His colleagues and other Met staff could face disciplinary action after they had used police computer systems without authorisation to find out about his arrest, The Sun reports.

At the time of his arrest, the Met confirmed a serving officer had been arrested but did not provide his name. The Met also stated he was not on duty at the time of her abduction.

However, his name was subsequently leaked to the press and the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards later launched an investigation into the suspected leak.

The investigation has led to about 35 people being contacted to establish their reasons for accessing the files.

Accessing police records without authority can lead to criminal charges for misconduct in public office.

Ex-Met Det Chief Insp Mick Neville said: “Anyone who has watched Line of Duty will know that the police anti-corruption squad can check who has viewed official records.

“We can only hope that the officers and staff who viewed them did so out of idle curiosity and not some dishonest purpose.”

PC Couzens will be tried at the Old Bailey in October for kidnap and murder.