Wayne Couzens: Police officer charged with gross misconduct over alleged evidence leak on Sarah Everard killer

An officer who allegedly posted messages detailing restricted evidence from Sarah Everard killer Wayne Couzens’ police interview is facing charges of gross misconduct.

Sgt Simon Kempton, who is part of Dorset Police, is set to appear at a misconduct panel on Tuesday, February 22, accused of “discreditable conduct”.

At the time of the allegations, Sgt Kempton was on secondment to the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), the staff association representing more than 130,000 officers.

He is listed on their website as the organisation’s national board treasurer.

On March 3, 2021, Couzens, then serving with the Met Police, used his warrant card to falsely arrest 33-year-old Ms Everard, who he accused of breaking Covid-19 restrictions.

Her body was later found in woods near Ashford, Kent.

Couzens is serving a whole life order after he pleaded guilty to her kidnap, rape and murder.

He reportedly lied during a police interview, claiming he had been forced to abduct Ms Everard after he was threatened by an Eastern European gang for underpaying a prostitute.

Details of the interview were understood to have been read out at Couzens’ first hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, but were tightly controlled by restrictions on media reporting.

It has now been alleged that after that hearing on March 13, 2021, PS Kempton “posted a series of messages on a group chat in which he disclosed evidence that had been revealed during the hearing”.

He is alleged to have “breached the appropriate standards of professional behaviour concerning authority, respect and courtesy, orders and instructions, duties and responsibilities, [and] confidentiality”.

His actions are described as “discreditable conduct”.

PS Kempton was “required to abide by the code of ethics, professional standards of behaviour and various codes and policies concerning the use of digital media”.

If proved, these allegations taken as a whole amount to gross misconduct.

The panel will comprise Derek Marshall, independent legal chairman, chief superintendent Ben Hargreaves, police member, and Jennifer Macdonald, independent member.

It will be held at Dorset Police force headquarters, in Winfrith, Dorset, from 10am and is expected to last three days.

A spokesmn for the PFEW said: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on this matter while investigations are ongoing and ahead of the hearing itself.”