As further details were released of the circumstances surrounding the murder of Sarah Everard, Centre for Women's Justice have today released the following statement
“The horrific details emerging from Wayne Couzens’ sentencing hearing remind us of the failures of the criminal justice system to tackle male violence against women and girls and of the inability of the police to deal adequately with their own. Whilst it is rare for a police officer to murder a woman, this case is not unique. It is horrifying to learn of previous allegations against Couzens for indecent exposure and of his use of police powers and identity to deceive Sarah Everard. As our police super-complaint illustrates there are far too many victims of police perpetrated abuse (over 150 such women have come forward to us since we launched the report eighteen months ago) and many women are fearful of reporting such crimes because they cannot trust the police to investigate. Where they do report, they are frequently failed and sometimes victimised by other officers loyal to their accused colleague. All police forces should operate a zero tolerance approach to police perpetrators of all forms of abuse including to the boys’ locker room culture within police forces and, institute a robust, transparent and independent process for investigating and dealing with allegation of police perpetrated abuse.”
Harriet Wistrich, Director of the Centre for Women’s Justice
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Holding the state to account for violence against women and girls