North Yorkshire's police boss urged to quit over Sarah Everard comments

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is among those calling for Phillip Allott to resign

Author: Liam ArrowsmithPublished 2nd Oct 2021
Last updated 2nd Oct 2021

North Yorkshire's police boss has been urged to resign after he said women need to be more "streetwise" about arrests, in the wake of Sarah Everard's death.

Philip Allott made the comments while discussing Wayne Couzens, who carried out a fake arrest in order to get the 33-year-old into his car and kidnapping her.

He later tweeted an apology, saying he realised his remarks were "insensitive".

But Mr. Allott is now facing calls to resign from the role of North Yorkshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

In a now-deleted tweet, he also said: "Nobody is blaming the victim."

"What I am saying is that we need to inform women far better of their rights, something I intend to action here in North Yorkshire ASAP."

But York Central's Labour MP Rachael Maskell said he is "not up to the job" and his comments have "made things worse" at a time when women feel unsafe.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer is also among those calling for his resignation.

Sir Keir said: "He should go. I can't think of a more inappropriate thing for a police and crime commissioner to say at any time, but at this time in particular. He should consider his position."

Silkie Carlo, director of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: "I know my rights. If I was arrested by a police officer with a badge and handcuffs during lockdown, I would have no choice."

"Jess Phillips said the same this morning. It could have been any of us. She stood no chance. How dare you say she 'submitted'. Please, for our safety, resign."

Wayne Couzens, who joined the Metropolitan Police in 2018, was handed a rare full-life sentence at the Old Bailey on Thursday for the kidnap, rape and murder of the 33-year-old marketing executive as she walked home in south London in March.

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