In the wake of more details being released to the public about the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard, the shortcomings and failings of the police have been made all the more glaringly obvious. This comes mere days after the announcement of yet another woman suffering a violent death on the streets of London, Sabina Nessa, proving that even though the Metropolitan Police are “rocked and shamed” by Sarah’s case in March 2021, women’s safety is still not a priority six months later to ensure a decrease in threats of attack. 

Women and girls do not feel safe because they are not safe. When have we been? This isn’t a new problem. Every woman or girl has a story about their personal lived experience revolving around male violence that adds to this narrative. Violence at the hands of male perpetrators continues to happen, and whilst it’s great that in these times there is more chance the guilty are held to account, shouldn’t the police’s focus be on preservation of life to begin with?? Shouldn’t the government be focusing on education and prevention rather than cure?? 

Every woman you know has a story to tell about not feeling safe, and sadly in the case of Sarah, it was in the hands of the very people we are told to trust, the police. Yet it goes on, with the recent murder of Sabina, and the fear doesn’t go away, the feeling of relief when we get home safe still exists. This shouldn’t even be in our trajectory, safety should be our normal and assumed way of life. 

More needs to be done by the government and particularly the police rather than an acknowledgement that they will “learn lessons” and advising us to challenge plain clothes officers when we might be in the dark and cornered. Why are they continuously failing to keep us safe, why are we still paying for them? 

Let’s get police to: 

Increase paired patrols in quiet, poorly lit areas and parks, because that is where a predator will strike, and it’s also unfair and unreasonable to instruct women and girls they shouldn’t take that shortcut or go out after dark. Especially in winter months when it’s dark after 4pm and before the end of the working day. Because we shouldn’t have to be told not to walk in the dark just because we are female. 

Bring effective change by making it mandatory for police officers (plain clothes or not) to approach/patrol/search individuals in pairs, with a heightened female officer presence, ensuring that a female officer is present for stopping female individuals at all times. Hopefully this shouldn’t be an issue for the Metropolitan Police because they have acknowledged we don’t trust them anymore and want to learn their lessons. 

Police clearly also need a policy and culture overhaul to ensure a working environment where female officers are heard and no longer feel bullied by their male counterparts. Make female officers instrumental in the fight for women’s safety by giving them a platform to have their fears heard, and providing more developmental opportunities. 

Let’s get government to: 

Introduce women’s safety into the national curriculum and encourage a dialogue in schools and colleges around what is acceptable and what is not, consent, what is inappropriate, etc. Educate men from a young age all the way up. 

Stop victim blaming by encouraging us not to walk home alone in the dark without companions or be drunk or dressed a certain way, recognise and SAY that violence against women and girls is a paramount issue, regardless of the time of day, the clothes we wear or the way we appear.

Actively promote, seek and fund the solutions named above appropriately.