Fury as North Yorkshire Crime Commissioner says women ‘need to be streetwise about arrest powers’ and campaigner slams his comments as ‘horrifically offensive’
- North Yorkshire crime commissioner Philip Allot made the comments during a BBC Radio York interview
- The Conservative, who was elected in May, said Everard never should have ‘submitted’ to the arrest that led to her death
- His words have been branded ‘victim blaming’ and ‘horrifically offensive’
A crime commissioner been called to resign for saying women ‘need to be streetwise’ about being arrested, following the death of Sarah Everard.
Conservative Phillip Allot, commissioner for North Yorkshire Police, said that Miss Everard never should have ‘submitted’ to the arrest which led to her death on March 3 by former Met officer Wayne Couzens.
The comments, made during an interview on BBC Radio York, were branded ‘horrifically offensive’ by one campaigner.
North Yorkshire crime commissioner Philip Allot said Miss Everard ‘never should have been arrested and submitted to that’
Mr Allot faced calls to resign on Twitter after making the comments, which were branded ‘horrifically offensive’ by a campaigner
During the interview, host Georgey Spanswick asked: ‘How on earth do my stepdaughters, me, my friends, how do we protect ourselves now?’
Mr Allot said: ‘So women, first of all, need to be streetwise about when they can be arrested and when they can’t be arrested.
‘She should never have been arrested and submitted to that.
‘Perhaps women need to consider in terms of the legal process, to just learn a bit about that legal process.’
His comments were challenged by host Spanswick, who said: ‘Why is it down to me Philip? Why is it down to women because actually, this is down to one man in the police force and there are serious doubts about this man’s conduct?’
Mr Allot later wrote on Twitter that his comments were not meant to imply ‘victim blaming’ but the tweet has since been removed.
He has received angry feedback on social media, with some users even calling for him to resign.
Janemortsdrizz posted on Twitter: ‘No Philip. You told us that Sarah Everard is to blame for her own murder because she didn’t question her false arrest by a serving police officer. DISGUSTING. RESIGN!’
Victoria Wilkie tweeted: ‘I’m disgusted by your comments. It’s victim blaming… the only person to blame is him.’
Another user, FedUpandBack, added: ‘Nice victim blaming, you should be ashamed.’
Before moving to London, 33-year-old Sarah Everard was originally from York, the area covered by Mr Allot’s force, and her family still lives there.
Lucy Arnold, of campaign group Reclaim the Streets, who organised a vigil for Ms Everard outside York Minster, was among those angered by Mr Allott’s comments.
Sarah Everard, 33, was kidnapped, raped and murdered after a false arrest by former Met officer Wayne Couzens on March 3
Conservative Mr Allot was elected as North Yorkshire crime commissioner in May 2021, replacing the previous incumbent, Julia Mulligan
She said: ‘I think frankly that was a horrifically offensive thing to say.
‘Does anyone really feel like they can stand up to a police officer?
‘I am very confident I know my rights, I know the law, but no I wouldn’t feel confident at all.’
In his earlier interview, Mr Allot was critical of the Met Police’s handling of reports about Couzen’s behaviour leading up to the murder.
He said: A murderer typically commits seven crimes before going on to murder, that man we know committed at least two crimes.
‘The police knew, so what should have happened is that it should have been picked up straight away.’
The North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s office has been approached for comment.