‘Wave a bus down’ if you’re being harassed or handcuffed by the police?
Women who fear a male police officer might not be genuine should call 999 or “shout out to a passer-by, run into a house or wave a bus down”, the Metropolitan Police Service has advised in the aftermath of the Sarah Everard case.
The advice comes amid mounting pressure from the public and MPs for the Met to address how they will deal with violence against women after ex-Met officer Wayne Couzens was on Thursday sentenced to die behind bars, and amid calls for commission Cressida Dick to resign.
A message on the Met’s website says it is “unusual for a single plain clothes police officer” to engage with any member of the public, and adds that if you don’t see other officers arrive later then you can expect to ask the lone officer questions such as “where are your colleagues?” and “why are you here?”.
We want to know what the Met are doing to address the deeply rooted problems with violence against women within the force.
This completely derisory advice shows they’re still not taking it seriously.
And they wonder why trust is at an all-time low?https://t.co/sm3nRyeT4a
— Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (@BellRibeiroAddy) October 1, 2021
The statement from the Met, & this advice in particular shows a fundamental lack of insight into the issue of women's safety with the police. It doesn't even *recognise* the huge power imbalance between a police officer and someone they are arresting.https://t.co/mjL1d63lZP
— Women's Equality Party (@WEP_UK) October 1, 2021
'Wave a bus down' if you're being harassed or handcuffed by THE POLICE???? https://t.co/qzRv50NWQb
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) October 1, 2021
Everybody:
Can the Met explain how they are going to change their hiring and disciplinary process, as well as reform their misogynistic culture, so that nothing like this happens againThe Met:
Have you tried flagging a bus https://t.co/06u5YelwMY— James Felton (@JimMFelton) October 1, 2021
However, if you think you are in imminent danger then you should seek assistance by “shouting out to a passer-by, running into a house, knocking on a door, waving a bus down, or if you are in the position to do so calling 999”.
Policing Minister Kit Kit Malthouse reiterated the advice on Sky News on Friday, saying: “If anybody has any doubts about that police officer, they should question the officer on what they’re doing and if there are any doubts they should ask to speak to the control room on that officer’s radio or call 999… that is the devastating consequence of this awful man’s actions.”
The advice hasn’t been well received in the wake of the Everard case, where a court was told how Couzens used his Police ID and handcuffs to kidnap the marketing executive and that he was previously known to some officers as “the rapist”.
After today’s harrowing sentencing hearing, the Government must act. There has to be a full inquiry and on the next day Parliament sits, Ministers must bring forward legislation to address the violence women and girls are subjected to on our streets. Letter from @UKLabour👇 pic.twitter.com/DHaL6WBg3E
— Nick Thomas-Symonds MP (@NickTorfaen) September 30, 2021
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s The World At One, Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Tom Winsor said that Couzens also “had allegedly a reputation in terms of drug abuse, extreme pornography and other offences of this kind”.
Winsor said the Independent Office for Police Conduct was investigating what other officers knew about Couzens following his conviction, adding that the force has a “culture of protection”, where officers tend not to report other police officials.
Related links:
- Sarah Everard’s mum’s heartbreaking statement in full
- Wayne Couzens’ used police ID to kidnap Sarah Everard’
- Police attempt to silence speakers at Clapham Common as women gather to pay tribute to Sarah Everard
