WEST MERCIA’s first female Chief Constable said the force will do ‘everything possible’ to rebuild women’s trust in the police after the horrific murder of Sarah Everard.
Ms Everard was brutally kidnapped, raped and murdered by former serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens in March. The rapist was handed a whole life sentence last week, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in jail.
Sentencing at the Old Bailey on Thursday (September 30), Lord Justice Fulford described the circumstances of the murder as ‘grotesque
His horrific crimes shocked the nation and in statement following his sentencing, Pippa Mills said the entire service had been shaken by his ‘abhorrent’ actions.
“The crimes he committed against Sarah and the abuse of a position of trust counter everything we stand and strive for as a service,” she said.
“I recognise the understandable damage to public trust and confidence in policing. We must now do everything possible to rebuild that faith, to understand women’s fears and concerns and to show beyond doubt that they can put their trust in us.”
West Mercia’s top cop said the force would review the lessons to be learned and said it was absolutely committed to progressing plans to prevent violence against women and girls, to keep them safe and to make them feel safe.
“We prioritise domestic abuse, serious sexual offences, stalking and harassment, aiming to bring offenders to justice and support victims,” she said.
The Chief Constable said women would be ‘apprehensive’ if approached by a lone police officer, particularly in plain clothes.
She backed guidance issued by the Metropolitan Police, despite it being labelled ‘laughable’ and ‘tone deaf’ by critics.
The advice calls on women to ask questions of the plain clothes officer such as where are their colleagues, why are they here and why has the officer has approached them.
“Try to seek some independent verification of what they say, if they have a radio ask to hear the voice of the operator, even ask to speak through the radio to the operator to say who you are and for them to verify you are with a genuine officer, acting legitimately.
“If you feel you are in real and imminent danger and you do not believe the officer is who they say they are seek assistance by shouting out to a passer-by or if you are in the position to do so call 999.”
Among those to criticise the advice was Labour MP and prominent women’s rights campaigner Jess Phillips who said she would have got in the car as Ms Everard did.
West Mercia’s Chief Constable urged people and serving officers to report any concerns over behaviour to the force and said any complaint would be investigated thoroughly
“Our thoughts are with Sarah Everard’s family and friends. Whilst the sentencing hopefully provides some small amount of justice, I recognise that nothing will ever relieve the pain and loss they must be experiencing,” she added.
SUSAN Everard bravely spoke about how she is ‘haunted’ by what happened to her daughter. Here’s an extract of what she told the court.
“Sarah is gone and I am broken hearted. She was my precious little girl, our youngest child.
The feeling of loss is so great it is visceral. And with the sorrow come waves of panic at not being able to see her again. I can never talk to her, never hold her again, and never more be a part of her life. We have kept her dressing gown – it still smells of her and I hug that instead of her.
Sarah died in horrendous circumstances. I am tormented at the thought of what she endured.
I play it out in my mind. I go through the terrible sequence of events.
I wonder when she realised she was in mortal danger; I wonder what her murderer said to her.
When he strangled her, for how long was she conscious, knowing she would die?
It is torture to think of it. Sarah was handcuffed, unable to defend herself and there was no one to rescue her. She spent her last hours on this earth with the very worst of humanity.
She lost her life because Wayne Couzens wanted to satisfy his perverted desires.
It is a ridiculous reason, it is nonsensical; how could he value a human life so cheaply?
I cannot comprehend it. I am incandescent with rage at the thought of it. He treated my daughter as if she was nothing and disposed of her as if she was rubbish.
If Sarah had died because of an illness, she would have been cared for. We could have looked after her and been with her.
If she had died because of an accident, people would have tried to help – there would have been kindness.
But there is no comfort to be had, there is no consoling thought in the way Sarah died.
Burning her body was the final insult, it meant we could never again see her sweet face and never say goodbye.
Her death leaves a yawning chasm in our lives that cannot be filled.
I am repulsed by the thought of Wayne Couzens and what he did to Sarah.
I am outraged that he masqueraded as a policeman in order to get what he wanted.”
