Two probationary police officers who shared an inappropriate graphic online regarding the murder of Sarah Everard have been given a final written warning.

Miss Everard’s body was found in woodland near Ashford in March 2021. Wayne Couzens, from Deal - at the time a serving officer with the Met Police – was later convicted of her kidnap, rape and murder and given a life sentence.

Stuart Cundy, a Deputy Assistant Commissioner with the Met Police, said: “The graphic was insensitive, inappropriate and deeply hurtful.

“The thoughtless, unkind actions of the two officers who shared the graphic are incredibly disappointing, and they let everyone down with their behaviour.

“Thankfully colleagues who received the image were disgusted and promptly reported their concerns to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, who made an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC.)”

Both officers were found to have breached the standards required of professional behaviour. One has since resigned from the force.

Mr Cundy said: “Officers and staff are regularly reminded of their responsibilities regarding use of social media and are expected to uphold high standards. I am clear that any alleged wrongdoing reported to us will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action taken.”

A third police constable, based on Central North Command Unit, received “reflective practice” after forwarding the image to ask for advice on how to deal with the situation.

The IOPC has conducted a number of investigations arising from the Wayne Couzens case, including into why police had earlier failed to properly investigate allegations of indecent exposure by Couzens at a McDonald’s restaurant in Swanley days before the murder.

Kent Police had also been criticised over their handling of an alleged indecent exposure at Dover in June 2015. The allegations were all linked to Couzens’ vehicle at the time.

Now at the conclusion of those investigations, the IOPC has recommended changes to police procedure.

The IOPC wants to see the introduction of a national system designed to ensure that when criminal allegations are made against serving officers, police forces are told.

The IOPC believes it is vital that police are made aware early on when their officers are suspected of offences and will be talking to the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) about the issue.

IOPC Director of Operations Amanda Rowe said: “Wayne Couzens’ horrific crimes appalled the nation, sent shockwaves through the policing world and deeply impacted on trust and confidence in the police service, particularly from women.

“Our investigations into the Met and Kent Police’s handling of the indecent exposure allegations highlighted there is no system in place to alert forces when a police officer becomes a crime suspect.

“We believe this needs to change. It may not have prevented Couzens from committing his crimes, but if it is combined with the change in culture that policing recognises is necessary, it could help prevent it from happening again in the future.”

Earlier this week, a police disciplinary panel found gross misconduct proven against a former Met constable Samantha Lee over her failures in the initial investigation of indecent exposure allegations involving Couzens.

Former PC Lee resigned last year.

IOPC investigators established that ex-PC Lee spent a maximum of 20 minutes of the hour allocated for her to interview the manager at the drive-through fast food restaurant on 3 March 2021.

She did not progress CCTV inquiries and did not record on the crime report a statement from the manager, till receipts from the suspect, and initial accounts from the victims.

She did not carry out all the necessary intelligence checks to establish who was driving the car despite an initial check on the registration showing Couzens as the only male keeper.

In a separate investigation, completed in May 2022, the IOPC found a case to answer for misconduct against a Kent Police sergeant for failing to follow all reasonable lines of inquiry after it was reported that a motorist had indecently exposed himself to a pedestrian in 2015.

The officer did not carry out CCTV inquiries or seek to identify further witnesses; and did not contact Couzens to establish if he was still the registered keeper of the car allegedly involved, and where he was at the time.