When the news broke that Sarah Everard’s murderer was a serving Met Police officer, London held its breath in complete shock.

An epic failure vetting system that allows monsters in and once again, our frontline officers, neighbourhood officers, community officers will get the biggest brunt and backlash of this abuse

It is a truly a sad day when women across London are issued guidelines on what to do if approached by a lone police officer. It is afterall, police officers that the community are supposed to turn to when they find themselves in a potentially difficult or threatening situation.Yet here we are in 2024 and women have been issued advice on what to do if a lone male police officer approaches them on their own.

The horrendous murder of Sarah Everard and the disgusting abuse of women by Carrick, has left women appalled across London. The epic vetting failure that allowed these monsters and the numerous others that have come to light since then, has meant women were not protected, but also abused and murdered by men who in theory were a representation of the law and law protectors.

When the news broke that Sarah Everard’s murderer was a serving Met Police officer, London held its breath in complete shock. When it was revealed how Couzens used his warrant card to lure Sarah and his role as an officer to murder her, it seemed completely incomprehensible. How could this be? Women, that until then had Faith in officers, were questioning their views.

Serving officers in the Met were left with the most horrendous murder by a colleague. Many officers actually cried. Male officers, left rooms and meetings to actually come to terms with the severity of what a man wearing their uniform that they were so proud of once, had done. The act he had committed that they knew would shatter their communities.

After Couzens, came Carrick. Another disgusting individual whose treatment and abuse on women was repellent. When the long list of abuse he had subjected his victims to was revealed, it was at this stage that women and the community began to shout-why is no one calling these monsters out? Carrick was a long serving officer, he had a reputation, why was his behaviour not called out?

Today, many others have come to light now and sadly women are used to hearing of male officers abusing and raping women. I cannot believe I am actually writing this.

It appears that we have a vetting system that does not allow men to join if they have financial difficulties, but does allow you to join if you have a history of abuse or sexual misconduct in any form.

So the question to ask here is- who is allowing this vetting system to continue and when will it stop? Is there an IOPC investigation for them as well?

Sadly, it also seems that officers who do call out these horrendous acts, are then targeted and their lives made uncomfortable.

There are many, many outstanding police officers in our communities that do a truly incredible job everyday on our streets.Officers who despite years of these horrendous acts taking place, have carried on because they are dedicated to their role and helping others. Officers who genuinely joined to make a difference and do just that. Officers whose mental health has been hugely impacted because of the current state of our policing that is going from bad to worse. Officers who today, will put their boots on and go out into the community face abuse, and still save lives.

Once again, our frontline officers, neighbourhood officers, community officers will get the biggest brunt and backlash of this abuse. It is worth noting, that it is these officers that are the ones who come when we need them the most. It is also not these officers who are the decision makers and those who allow this vetting process or lack of, to continue.

We must safeguard our hard working, dedicated officers.

Most of us have never seen the state of our policing as low as it is now. We must however, support our frontline, hard working officers, whose role is so important in our community and most of whom who do such an invaluable job.

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