A serving Metropolitan police officer in London has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Sarah Everard.
33-year-old Sarah has been missing since leaving a friend’s house in Clapham at approximately 9pm on Wednesday last week.
The police officer was detained at an address in Kent on Tuesday and a woman was also arrested at the same address it has been reported.
The woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. They have each been taken into custody at a London police station it has been confirmed.
Everard’s family is being kept updated with developments of the case, the Met said.
A man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Sarah Everard.
This is a significant development but our investigation continues.
We repeat our appeal for anyone with information to speak to detectives on 0208 785 8244. https://t.co/7586mGGLHv
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 9, 2021
Assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: “The arrest this evening is a serious and significant development. We will continue to work with all speed on this investigation but the fact that the arrested man is a serving Metropolitan police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing.
“I understand there will be significant public concern but it is essential that the investigative team are given the time and space to continue their work.”
We need YOUR help to find #SarahEverard.
Were you driving in the Poynders Road area after 9.30pm on Wednesday 3rd March?
PLEASE check and double check your dash and door cams for footage.
📞 If you have any information call the incident room on 0208 785 8244 pic.twitter.com/tHLHbfDbiR
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 9, 2021
DCI Katherine Goodwin said: “This is a significant development in our inquiry. This is a fast-moving investigation and we are doing everything we can to find Sarah.
“We have seen an overwhelming response from the public and I repeat my request for anyone with information that may be relevant to come forward, no matter how insignificant it may seem.”
Sarah has not been seen since she left a friend’s home in Clapham, south-west London, on the evening of 3 March.
She was to walk home by herself to Brixton, about 50 minutes away by foot that night.
The last known sighting of her was on Poynders Road – she was captured on film by a private door camera as she walked home alone from Cavendish Road in the direction of Tulse Hill just south of Brixton.
The police cordon that was put around flats were she was last seen was around the Poynders Court housing estate on the north side of the road, has not confirmed whether it was related to the search or not at the time.
The timeline of events so far:
3 March: Sarah Everard goes missing after leaving a friend’s house in Clapham around 9pm that evening.
6 March: Metropolitan police raise the alarm, saying it was “totally out of character” for Everard not to be in contact with family and friends. Police release a CCTV image of Sarah.
7 March: Police release footage taken from a doorbell cam showing Everard was walking alone along Poynders Road towards Tulse Hill, just south of Brixton.
8 March: Scotland Yard says it remains “open minded as to all possibilities”, while confirming a missing persons investigation. Police also state that they have received more than 120 calls from the public on the case and ask anyone who may have relevant dashcam or other footage to come forward.
9 March: Police use sniffer dogs to search gardens in streets around the search site near Everard’s believed route home that night and in the nearby Oaklands Estate.
9 March: Met Police say they have arrested a police officer at an address in Kent in connection with Everard’s disappearance, with a woman arrested at the same location on suspicion of assisting an offender. The police officer was NOT on duty when Sarah went missing.
The man and the woman have been taken into custody.
