Two serving Metropolitan Police officers and one former officer have been charged with sending grossly offensive messages on WhatsApp, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

Couzens was given a whole life sentence last year for killing Everard during a fake arrest, while a serving member of the Metropolitan Police.

He murdered the 33-year-old after abducting her on 3 March 2021 in south London.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) sent prosecutors a file on allegations the three shared racist and misogynistic messages with Couzens between April and August 2019.

In a statement, the IOPC said: "Two serving Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers and one former MPS officer are to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 16 March charged in connection with an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into the sending and sharing of inappropriate messages on WhatsApp.

"They are charged with sending grossly offensive messages on a public communications network contrary to section 127 of the Communications Act 2003."

The IOPC's investigation began following a referral from the Met last April.

Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: "Following a referral of evidence by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the CPS has authorised charges against two serving Metropolitan Police officers and one former officer."