March 3rd 2024.
It's been three years since Sarah Everard's tragic death at the hands of a Metropolitan Police officer. As the anniversary approaches, it's disheartening to see that none of the promised changes have been made. The Home Office and Scotland Yard had pledged to implement significant reforms following Ms. Everard's kidnapping, rape, and murder by a serving officer. It's hard to believe that such a heinous crime could happen, and even harder to accept that nothing has been done to prevent it from happening again.
On March 3, 2021, 33-year-old Sarah was walking through Clapham Common when she was stopped by Wayne Couzens, who pretended to arrest her for violating Covid restrictions. Instead, he brutally raped and strangled her before disposing of her body in a pond. The Home Office called this incident a "turning point" and promised to take action against violence towards women and girls. Sarah's family and friends described her as a kind and thoughtful person, and her tragic death shook the nation.
In the aftermath of Sarah's murder, the Metropolitan Police pledged to make major internal changes. Policing Minister Kit Malthouse acknowledged the devastating impact this crime had on people's trust in the police. However, a recent report revealed that Couzens should never have been hired as a police officer, and there were multiple missed opportunities to stop him from becoming a sexual predator. It's alarming to see that instead of improving, the situation seems to have worsened, with more police officers making headlines for committing horrific crimes against women.
A review of all police officers triggered after Sarah's murder revealed that there were 461 cases that required further investigation. Out of these, 97 were deemed serious enough to warrant a criminal investigation, and nine of them resulted in criminal charges. Shockingly, 88 of these cases led to disciplinary action, and 139 officers are now having their vetting reexamined. It's evident that something needs to change within the police force, and these incidents have brought to light the need for better vetting procedures and more stringent measures for dealing with officers who commit such crimes.
Anna Birley, co-founder of women's safety organization Reclaim These Streets, believes that it shouldn't take the loss of a woman's life for authorities to acknowledge the need for change. She helped organize a vigil to remember not just Sarah but all the women who have been killed by male violence. However, the police thwarted the vigil, citing Covid restrictions, and this only added to the frustration and anger felt by the community. Anna believes that the police's actions reflect the toxic culture that allowed these crimes to go unnoticed for so long.
It's not just within the police force that these crimes are occurring. The murders of Nicole Smallman, Bibaa Henry, Zara Aleena, and Sabina Nessa, to name a few, all made headlines after they were targeted by male strangers in public. Patsy Stevenson, who became the face of the protests against Sarah's murder, believes that there have been nothing but empty promises in the seven months since her death. She was arrested at the vigil and chose to settle outside of court, but she regrets not taking the case further. Patsy believes that the police need to be held accountable for their actions, and there needs to be more support for whistleblowers within the force.
Unfortunately, the lack of trust in the police is not limited to just a few individuals. A recent survey revealed that half of women under 25 do not trust the police, and a quarter of all women reported a drop in confidence in the police's ability to tackle this issue in the past year. More than half believe that the police have done little to restore their trust. It's evident that something needs to change, and women's safety should be treated as a priority.
It's clear that the figures do not lie, and women no longer trust the police. The recent incidents involving police officers committing heinous crimes against women have shattered people's confidence in the force. It's time for the police to take a hard look at their procedures and make the necessary changes to ensure the safety of women. The community's anger and frustration are understandable, and it's essential for the authorities to listen and take action. Women deserve to feel safe, and they have every right to expect it from those who are meant to protect and serve them.
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