Police boss apologises for saying Sarah Everard should have resisted arrest

Sarah Everard was kidnapped, raped and murdered by Wayne Couzens, a serving police officer at the time

(Picture: PA Media)

A police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) has said he is sorry for saying Sarah Everard should not have “submitted” to the fake arrest.

Wayne Couzens used his police warrant card and handcuffs to stage an arrest to snatch the 33-year-old marketing executive from the streets of London, luring her to her death.

He will spend his life behind bars for the kidnap, rape and murder of Ms Everard.

Conservative Philip Allott was forced to apologise after he sparked outrage when he said women needed to be “streetwise” about when women can be arrested and when they can’t be arrested.

In a tweet later, the PFCC for North Yorkshire said: “I would like to wholeheartedly apologise for my comments on BBC Radio York earlier today, which I realise have been insensitive and wish to retract them in full.”

I would like to wholeheartedly apologise for my comments on BBC radio York earlier today, which I realise have been insensitive and wish to retract them in full.

— Philip Allott (@philAllottPFCC) October 1, 2021

Initially he told BBC Radio York earlier on Friday: “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.”