Sarah Everard: Police search house and woodland in Kent after officer arrested over missing woman

Metropolitan Police officer, in his 40s, held on suspicion of kidnap, murder and separate allegation of indecent exposure

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard are searching a home and woodland in Kent after a serving police officer was arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder.

The 33-year-old marketing executive vanished a week ago while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on 3 March.

A man, aged in his 40s, was arrested on suspicion of kidnap on Tuesday evening before being further arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure on Wednesday.

The suspect is a serving Metropolitan Police officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. Police said his primary role was uniformed patrol duties of diplomatic premises.

A woman, in her 30s, was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. They both remain in police custody.

Police have been searching locations in London and Kent, including a property in Deal and an area of woodland near Ashford.

Forensic officers were seen going in and out of a house in Freemens Way, Deal, where a tent had been put up outside, while a number of cars were also spotted being taken away.

Police are thought to be searching land around the disused Great Chart Golf and Leisure complex in Bear’s Lane, where at least five police vans and multiple officers were seen outside.

Police activity outside a house in Freemens Way in Deal, Kent, as detectives hunt for Sarah Everard, who went missing in south London (Steve Parsons/PA)

A cordon is in place outside the complex, preventing the press and public from entering.

Police have also closed off nearby Fridd Lane, which is west of the golf course and borders a wooded area.

Residents living near the property being searched in Freemens Way said a helicopter had been circling overhead.

Matt Housely told PA news agency: “First thing you think, ‘has someone been murdered?’”

Another neighbour, Matt Mullan, said police had removed a number of cars from the address.

A forensic officer enters a house in Freemens Way in Deal, Kent, as detectives search for missing Sarah Everard (PA)

The 29-year-old added: “Last night there was police cars outside all night.

“I thought ‘this is a bit strange, not normal for round here’.

“It was about 8-9pm. There was heavy traffic out there and there has been police cars outside all morning.

“It's very surprising, definitely not what you expect to see.”

Another resident told PA: “You don't expect it to be on your doorstep really.

“You see this sort of thing every day on the TV and the news but you don't expect it.”

Sarah Everard was wearing the same green coat as in this picture on the night she went missing while walking home to Brixton from Clapham (Family handout/Metropolitan Police)

Earlier, speaking to journalists outside Scotland Yard, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said investigators “really hope” Ms Everard was still alive.

The officer, who was not on duty at the time of Ms Everard's disappearance, was arrested on Tuesday evening at an address in Kent, along with a woman who is being held on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Mr Ephgrave said: “This is a serious and significant development in our search for Sarah and the fact that the man who has been arrested is a serving Metropolitan Police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing.”

He told reporters detectives were working “at all speed” to find out what had happened to Ms Everard, and repeated appeals for members of the public to come forward with information.

After leaving her friend’s home, Ms Everard is thought to have walked through Clapham Common towards her house in Brixton – a journey which should have taken about 50 minutes.

Poynders Court on the A205 in Clapham, during the continuing search for Sarah Everard (Victoria Jones/PA)

She was last captured on a doorbell camera walking along the A205 Poynders Road towards Tulse Hill at about 9.30pm on 3 March.

On Tuesday evening, police put up a cordon outside a block of flats near where the footage was recorded.

The search was focused on the Poynders Court housing complex, and forensics officers could be seen examining the area.

Sniffer dogs were also used to search the nearby Oaklands Estate and gardens in surrounding streets, while other officers were lifting covers and searching drains along the A205.

The Metropolitan Police said it had received more than 120 calls from the public and had visited 750 homes in the area as part of the investigation.

Additional reporting by PA