In news that I’ve long suspected might be on the way, the BBC has commissioned a two-part ‘factual drama’ about the events surrounding the death of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman who was abducted and murdered by a then-serving police officer, Wayne Couzens, in March 2021.
The BBC One drama will “examine the circumstances that allowed a sexual offender to become, and remain, a Metropolitan Police officer” and explore how “significant evidence of sexual offending was repeatedly dismissed, and poor vetting and a lack of training and motivation meant vital evidence against him was never collected.”
A BBC press note adds, “It will consider the impact these failings have had on public confidence in policing, particularly in light of the epidemic of violence against women and girls.”
When I first heard the news, like many, my first thoughts belonged to Sarah’s family. Have they signed off on this? The BBC says the drama will be “handled with sensitivity and respect”, adding that “the production team are in contact with Sarah’s family.”
As a long-time critic of true crime, I worry about so-called ‘factual dramas’ – particularly those that explore violence against women and girls. So often, the terrifying last moments of a woman’s life are pilfered as content, with little thought for her dignity even in death. Can the BBC’s drama series about Sarah Everard’s murder avoid falling into this trap?
The as yet untitled series will be written by BAFTA-winning Jeff Pope MBE, who has previously worked on sensitive factual dramas, including Little Boy Blue, about 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot in Liverpool in 2007; Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, about an innocent Brazilian man who was fatally shot by the police who wrongfully suspected him of being a terrorist; and A Confession, about the kidnapping and murder of 22-year-old Sian O’Callaghan in 2011.
It’s clear Pope has form for handling distressing real-life stories – often exploring the role of the police – with sensitivity and respect. Little Boy Blue was made with the support of Rhys Jones’ family, who said they wanted to “keep his memory alive and for people to understand how important he was”. Little Boy Blue was released on ITV 10 years after the events surrounding Rhys’ death. At the time, his family said, “We saw this as an opportunity to let the public see what happens to a family like ours in a situation like this.”
Judging from the synopsis of the new series, it will focus on the police failings that enabled Wayne Couzens to commit such evil crimes. Hopefully, this means it will avoid sensationalising the horror that Sarah endured in her final hours. Indeed, Pope says, “Wayne Couzens should never have been a police officer, but opportunities to deny him that privilege were missed. That he was still a serving officer on the night of March 3rd 2021, after committing numerous sexual offences over a long period of time, was a tragedy waiting to happen, and the key question asked by this drama.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, adds, “Drama has a unique ability to sensitively and respectfully tackle real-life subjects, and this series will explore the impact of this horrific crime, the misogyny and failings from within the Met Police and what lessons can be learnt.”
The BBC is clearly justifying this commission on the basis that it will keep attention on the Met Police’s failings that led to Sarah Everard’s murder, with a view to continuing to hold them accountable. But a ‘factual drama’ is still a drama. And I must admit, I still feel wary about this traumatic news story being adapted for entertainment. Even if the BBC handles it with the utmost care and respect, can we be sure that journalists and viewers alike will do the same?
The murder of Sarah Everard sent tremors around the world, but despite repeated promises for action and change, women still feel unsafe in the UK. Given how little has changed in the five years since Sarah’s murder, perhaps we do need to be shocked back into action. Just please, not at her family’s expense.
For more from Glamour UK‘s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra or on TikTok at @lucyalexxandra.