The report concluded that his unexplained disappearance should have been considered a warning sign when he was being vetted to join the Metropolitan Police.
In addition, there were vetting failures when Couzens applied to join both the CNC and the Met.
He managed to mask his desperate financial state and the fact he was so in debt that he had entered an Individual Voluntary Arrangement in order to avoid bankruptcy, which would have prevented him joining the police.
Presenting her findings, Lady Elish said: “The evidence seen by the inquiry has shown that failures in recruitment and vetting meant Couzens was able to continue a policing career which should have been denied to him.
“Failures investigations into allegations of indecent exposure meant opportunities to disrupt Couzens’ offending and bring his policing career to a halt were missed.” She went on: “The fact remains three separate police forces allowed him the privilege of being a police officer when they could and should have stopped him.”
Responding to the inquiry report, Ms Everard’s parents, Sue and Jeremy, and siblings, Katie and James Everard, said in a statement: “It is obvious Wayne Couzens should never have been a police officer. Whilst holding a position of trust, in reality he was a serial sex offender. Warning signs were overlooked throughout his career and opportunities to confront him were missed. We believe Sarah died because he was a police officer – she would never have got into a stranger’s car.”
The family also called for all the recommendations to be made forthwith, adding: “We cannot get Sarah back, but positive changes give hope for the future and will be of benefit to others.”
Ms Everard was 33 when she vanished in Clapham, south-west London, on the way home from a friend’s house.
