Five years after the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer, a new review into the killings committed by Simon Levy has concluded that fundamental policing failures persist, raising urgent questions about whether lessons have truly been learned. The review, commissioned by the Home Office and published on Friday, found that missed opportunities and systemic weaknesses allowed Levy, a 34-year-old former police community support officer, to evade detection for months while he attacked multiple women.
What Happened: The Levy Case
Simon Levy was arrested in March 2026 and later pleaded guilty to the murders of two women, Rachel Johnson and Priya Patel, and a series of sexual assaults against at least five other women across London between September 2025 and February 2026. He used his knowledge of police procedures to avoid suspicion, often posing as a plainclothes officer to detain his victims. The review reveals that on at least three occasions, women reported suspicious encounters to the Metropolitan Police, but their reports were not properly linked or investigated.
According to the review, a critical error occurred in November 2025 when a victim provided a detailed description of Levy and his vehicle, but the information was not entered into the national database due to administrative oversight. This failure directly contributed to Levy's continued offending, as he went on to commit two further assaults before his arrest.
Parallels with Sarah Everard's Murder
The review draws direct parallels with the murder of Sarah Everard, who was abducted, raped, and murdered by then-serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021. In both cases, the perpetrators exploited their positions of authority to gain the trust of victims, and in both cases, police procedures failed to flag warning signs. The review states that despite extensive reforms promised after the Everard case, including the introduction of a national police database for misogyny and violence against women, implementation has been inconsistent.
"The sad truth is that many of the recommendations made after Sarah Everard's murder have not been fully embedded," said Dame Louise Casey, who led the review. "We are seeing a repetitive cycle of failure where officers with known behavioural issues are not monitored effectively, and reports from women are not taken seriously enough."
Key Findings and Statistics
The review highlights that over 40% of police forces in England and Wales have not fully implemented the national vetting reforms introduced in 2022, which were designed to identify officers with a history of domestic abuse or sexual misconduct. Furthermore, a survey conducted for the review found that 68% of women who reported a crime to the police in the past year felt they were not taken seriously, a figure that has barely improved since 2021.
One of the most damning findings is that Levy was known to colleagues for making inappropriate comments about women, yet no formal action was taken. The review recommends that forces adopt a "professional curiosity" approach, where officers are trained to challenge inappropriate behavior and report concerns without fear of reprisal.
Impact on Policing and Public Trust
The findings have sparked renewed calls for reform from campaigners and politicians. Victims' groups argue that the police are still not doing enough to protect women, and that the legacy of the Everard case has been largely performative. "We have had five years of promises and very little change," said Maria Miller, chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee. "This review must be a turning point, not another report that gathers dust."
In response, the Home Secretary announced an immediate review of all police forces' vetting procedures and a new national unit to oversee the implementation of recommendations. The Metropolitan Police has also issued an apology, stating it is "determined to rebuild trust" and has already begun retraining its officers on handling reports of violence against women.
Looking Forward
The review sets out 20 recommendations, including mandatory body-worn cameras for all officers during stop-and-search, enhanced data sharing between forces, and the creation of an independent watchdog to monitor police conduct in relation to violence against women. However, campaigners remain skeptical, noting that similar recommendations have been made before. The challenge now lies in ensuring that these proposals are not merely adopted on paper but are effectively implemented and enforced.
As the fifth anniversary of Sarah Everard's murder approaches, the Levy case serves as a stark reminder that the police must do more to protect the public from those within their own ranks. The public will be watching closely to see whether the promises made this time are kept.
