LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s most senior police officer tried to reassure women that it is safe to walk the streets of London at night after one of their officers was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering a 33-year-old woman.
The disappearance of Sarah Everard and the announcement that human remains have been found led the woman to flood social media with posts about the measures they take when they go out alone at night to protect themselves, including keys to use as a weapon and sneakers to help them. to run.
Others have detailed a catalog of incidents of harassment by men in public over the decades since they were girls.
“They are so powerful because every woman can relate,” said Interior Secretary (interior minister) Priti Patel. “Every woman should feel safe to walk on our streets without fear of harassment or violence.”
Everard was last seen at 9:30 pm on March 3, while she was returning from a friend’s house in South London. His image, smiling at the camera or captured by CCTV that night, was published in British newspapers throughout the week.
A 40-year-old officer whose job it was to watch diplomatic buildings was arrested on suspicion of murder, kidnapping and indecent exposure, while a woman in her 30s was also detained on suspicion of helping a criminal.
Cressida Dick, head of the London police force, said she and her colleagues were “totally shocked” by the news that an officer on duty was arrested, saying it caused waves of “shock and anger” to the public and the police.
“I know Londoners will want to know that, fortunately, it is extremely rare for a woman to be kidnapped from our streets,” she said.
“But I fully understand that, despite this, women in London and the general public, especially those in the area where Sarah disappeared, will be concerned and may well be scared.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that he was shocked and deeply saddened by the events, while the disappearance led #saraheverard to become an online trend as women reported their experiences.
“The message that needs to be sent is that male violence is something that needs to be faced and challenged and the justice system and society need to wake up to it,” said Jess Phillips, spokesman for the opposition Labor Party on domestic violence.
“At the moment, we just don’t take it as seriously as we do other crimes.”
A vigil by Everard is to be held on Saturday night called Reclaim The Streets.
Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Alison Williams