What’s interesting and kind of terrifying is the approach points here were not actually factors in the case.
Wayne Couzens wasn’t deployed alone, he was off duty and went out on his own accord. He also did verify himself to Sarah and he was actually a legitimate officer. In the event that this was ever repeated, unfortunately none of these talked about implementations would make a difference.
He verified with his warrant card. The talked about implementation of having to speak to control room/another officer for example
when requested would in all likelihood make a difference as it then involves another party rather than just Couzens alone.
Some select events from before, during and immediate aftermath:
March 3rd 4:50pm - Couzens drives hire car out of the centre
March 3rd 9:34pm - Couzens handcuffs Everard on Poynders Road by his hire car
March 3rd 11:31pm - CCTV shows Couzens in Dover, court told that he transferred her to his Seat then, and at some point after drove to a remote rural spot northwest of Dover and raped her
March 4th 2:31am - Seat picked up on number-plate recognition camera in Dover, by which point she was likely murdered
March 4th 6:32am - CCTV picks up Seat near Hoad's Wood
March 4th evening - Everard reported missing by boyfriend
March 5th 11:00am - Couzens buys petrol can which he then fills up
March 5th 12:45pm - witness sees fire in Hoad's Wood
Alternative:
March 3rd 9:30pm - Couzens stops Everard, she asks to speak to control room/she rings 999 where verified he's not on duty, car registration noted (would it flag up that it is not in the database of police cars?). If an actual incident, her name and what police station she's being taken to are noted (there are three or four in a 20 minute drive range). If, 30 minutes later there's no report back to control, the police station is rung, they try to get in contact with Couzens/Everard and if nothing then the alarm is raised.
He got away with everything as long as he did because there was nobody to be accountable to. Under the alternative he
might have still raped and murdered her (though going through official channels may have been enough of a deterrent) but it wouldn't have got to the stage where he was able to set the body on fire.
And we're not talking about the implementations happening in all cases, but
if the person being arrested is concerned they can go through the channels.
Ultimately what is needed is widespread reform with the onus
not being on the woman to have to go through these measures to protect herself. That we're having to suggest that they may need to call the police to investigate whether what is happening to them is legit is a sad reflection of the present form of our justice system.