Police Commissioner's Comments Spark Outrage Over Sarah Everard Case

Police Commissioner Philip Allott has faced severe criticism after suggesting that Sarah Everard "never should have submitted" to her arrest by former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, who raped, kidnapped, and murdered her. The comments follow the recent sentencing of Couzens to a whole-life term. In response to Allott's statement, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon highlighted that it is not up to women to "fix" male violence, emphasizing that the problem lies with male perpetrators, not women's behavior. This controversy has sparked renewed calls for change in a culture that perpetuates male violence.

Key Takeaways:

• Philip Allott, North Yorkshire's police, fire, and crime commissioner, has faced criticism for suggesting that women should be aware of when they can be arrested and when they can't, implying that Sarah Everard should have known better.
• Allott's comments were met with outrage by Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who stated that it is not up to women to "fix" male violence.
• Sturgeon emphasized that the problem lies with male violence, not women's behavior, and called for change in a culture that perpetuates this violence.
• The Metropolitan Police have faced criticism for issuing advice telling people to "run away" if they feel unsafe in the presence of a lone police officer.
• Rape Crisis Scotland and Scottish Women's Aid helplines are available for support: 08088 01 03 02 and 0800 027 1234, respectively.

Statistics:

• 77 women have been murdered since Sarah Everard's death (https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/sarah-everards-murder-and-the-deaths-of-77-women-since-she-was-killed-show-why-we-must-change-a-culture-that-sees-male-violence-as-inevitable-sandy-brindley-3402916)
• Wayne Couzens was sentenced to a whole-life term for the rape, kidnapping, and murder of Sarah Everard (https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/whole-life-sentence-what-is-the-sentence-wayne-couzens-was-handed-for-rape-and-murder-of-sarah-everard-3402758)
• The Metropolitan Police have faced criticism for their handling of the Sarah Everard case and their advice on handling solo police officers.

Sources:

• (https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/whole-life-sentence-what-is-the-sentence-wayne-couzens-was-handed-for-rape-and-murder-of-sarah-everard-3402758)
• (https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/sarah-everards-murder-and-the-deaths-of-77-women-since-she-was-killed-show-why-we-must-change-a-culture-that-sees-male-violence-as-inevitable-sandy-brindley-3402916)
• (https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions)