Sarah Everard investigation: Specialist divers called in as police search Co-op car park in Kent

Large portions of Sandwich, Kent, remained cordoned off with police tape on Monday afternoon as inquiries into the death of the 33-year-old continue.
Michael Drummond15 March 2021
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Police investigating the death of Sarah Everard have been combing a supermarket car park in Kent as specialist divers were called in to search a stretch of water.

Officers are searching the Co-operative car park in Sandwich, days after Ms Everard’s body was found hidden in woodland in Ashford.

Large portions of the historic town remained cordoned off with police tape on Monday afternoon as inquiries into the death of the 33-year-old continue.

Officers used sticks to search through a shopping trolley shelter outside the supermarket, while others looked under vehicles.

At the edge of the cordon, a few officers gathered for discussion as one showed their colleagues a piece of gold jewellery that was then put in an evidence bag.

Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with murder and kidnap of the marketing executive, who went missing while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on March 3.

Metropolitan Police officers searching the Co-op supermarket car park in Sandwich, Kent
PA Wire

Meanwhile, a specialist marine unit from Devon and Cornwall is on the scene, with officers believed to be preparing to search in the water.

The River Stour runs through the town of Sandwich, located a couple of miles from the coast.

In a separate car park by the town’s Guildhall, officers dressed in blue overalls were seen pulling on wellies in another cordoned-off area.

Divers carrying breathing tanks were seen heading towards The Ropewalk near the town centre.

Large portions of the historic town remained cordoned off with police tape. Pictured: Police officers searching the Co-op car park in Sandwich, Kent
PA Wire

Once there, the officers lowered themselves into a stretch of water and began slowly moving along.

On Sunday, Sandwich Town Council said it was in contact with Kent Police on behalf of Scotland Yard as part of the investigation.

Scotland Yard said police have routinely been searching areas of London and Kent as part of the investigation.

The Met Police said Couzens joined the force two years ago in September 2018 when he worked for a response team covering the Bromley area, before moving to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in February last year.

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