SOMERSET business leader Deborah Meaden has spoken out over issues in policing, reacting to a story after the sentencing of Wayne Couzens, who killed Sarah Everard.
A police boss has been urged to resign after he said women “need to be streetwise” about powers of arrest in the wake of the case.
Couzens, a Metropolitan Police officer, falsely arrested Ms Everard in order to kidnap her before raping and murdering her.
Speaking to BBC Radio York on Friday, North Yorkshire police, fire and crime commissioner Philip Allott said Ms Everard “never should have submitted” to the arrest, prompting anger online.
In the interview, 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.”
JAILED: Met Police officer, Wayne Couzens
He later retracted his remarks and said on Twitter: “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.”
In a now-deleted tweet, he also 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.”
But many are calling for his resignation, including Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Sir Keir said: “He should go. I can’t think of a more inappropriate thing for a police and crime commissioner to say at any time, but at this time in particular. He should consider his position.”
And Somerset-based Ms Meaden, famed for her role on BBC show Dragons Den, also questioned police leadership.
In response to a tweet about the PCC's comments, she said: "He has apologised, as if you can apologise for thinking like this.
"Exactly what is wrong at the head of the police force?"
QUESTIONS: Deborah Meaden
Silkie Carlo, director of privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: “I know my rights. If I was arrested by a police officer with a badge and handcuffs during lockdown, I would have no choice. Jess Phillips said the same this morning. It could have been any of us. She stood no chance. How dare you say she ‘submitted’. Please, for our safety, resign.”
Couzens, who joined the Metropolitan Police in 2018, was handed a rare full-life sentence at the Old Bailey on Thursday for the kidnap, rape and murder of the 33-year-old marketing executive as she walked home in south London in March.
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