Plain clothes police officers could start patrolling bars and nightclubs as part of government plans to protect women from “predatory” offenders.
The move comes in the wake of the killing of 33-year-old Sarah Everard last week and following a meeting of the Criminal Justice Taskforce, chaired by the Prime Minister,
Plans announced last night by the Government also include doubling the size of the Safer Streets fund, which provides neighbourhood measures such as better lighting and CCTV.
The move comes alongside a commitment from the Government to work with police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners to ensure these target areas of potential concern for women and girls and are now more focussed on preventing sexual violence.
The Government says that they will complement existing action being taken to address violence against women and girls and keep them safe. This includes toughening sentences for serious violence and sexual assaults through the Police Crime and Sentencing Bill and measures in the Domestic Abuse Bill to improve protections for victims and create news offences, such as non-fatal strangulation.
Boris Johnson said:
“The horrific case of Sarah Everard has unleashed a wave of feeling about women not feeling safe at night.
We must do everything we can to ensure our streets are safe, and we are bringing in landmark legislation to toughen sentences and put more police on the streets.
We are also now taking further steps to provide greater reassurance, such as providing better lighting and greater use of CCTV in parks and routes women may take on their walks home.
Ultimately, we must drive out violence against women and girls and make every part of the criminal justice system work to better protect and defend them.”
Safeguarding Minister Victoria Atkins will continue to lead on this work, alongside the Home Secretary and Women and Equalities Minister Liz Truss.
The Policing Minister Kit Malthouse will also hold a summit in the coming weeks with police and industry representatives from the night-time economy on preparations to protect women as pandemic restrictions lift.
Meanwhile Londoners continue to protest against police after murder of Sarah Everard.Protesters gathered outside parliament in Westminster, where lawmakers started debating a bill on Monday that opponents said would give police too much power to restrict peaceful protests, days after police were criticised for using excessive force at a vigil for Everard.
The protesters briefly blocked traffic on nearby Westminster Bridge before gathering outside New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police, and moving on to Johnson’s Downing Street office.
Holding signs reading “Educate your sons” and “End violence against women”, protesters stood opposite a line of police outside New Scotland Yard, chanting “Sisters united will never be defeated” and “Who protects us from you?”
