A Tory police boss was forced to apologise for "disgraceful victim-blaming" after he said murdered Sarah Everard should never have "submitted" to her fake arrest.
North Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott drew widespread fury after he said women should be "streetwise" in an alarming interview with the BBC on Friday.
Sarah Everard, described as "beautiful" and "caring" by her grieving mum Susan, was raped and murdered by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens.
The killer deceived the 33-year-old marketing executive by falsely claiming she had breached Covid rules.
But Mr Allott, whose job as PCC is to hold North Yorkshire Police to account and represent people in the area, said women must be "streetwise" about when they "can and can't be arrested".
He said: "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".
Mr Allott later hastily deleted a tweet in which he appeared to double down on the statement.
It 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."
He then posted a full apology, saying: "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."
Couzens was sentenced to a whole life sentence at the Old Bailey on Thursday.
Miss Everard's murder has sparked national outrage and intensified calls for the police and government to do more to protect women from male violence.
The Met Police is also under fire for issuing advice to women telling them they should run and call 999 if they
Shadow domestic violence minister Jess Phillips told the Mirror: "This is disgraceful but unsurprising victim blaming we have become used to.
"This man is the exact problem we are talking about when we say the culture is wrong. Streetwise won't stop our rapes, streetwise won't stop our beatings, streetwise wouldn't have saved Sarah."
SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon called the comments "appalling".
She tweeted: "It’s not up to women to fix this. It’s not us who need to change.
"The problem is male violence, not women’s ‘failure’ to find ever more inventive ways to protect ourselves against it. For change to happen, this needs to be accepted by everyone."
MP for Newcastle North Catherine McKinnell tweeted: "This is a jaw dropping utter disgrace. Sickening sexist arrogance and ignorance. Violence against women is NEVER the fault of the victim. FULL STOP."
Lucy Arnold, who organised a vigil in York when Miss Everard died, said: "I think frankly that was a horrifically offensive thing to say.
"Does anyone really feel like they can stand up to a police officer?
"I am very confident I know my rights, I know the law, but no I wouldn't feel confident at all."
