'I think we can trust the police': PM backs officers amid anger at Sarah Everard murder

1 October 2021, 17:41 | Updated: 2 October 2021, 07:25

PM urges public to trust the police after Sarah Everard’s murder

By Will Taylor

Boris Johnson has insisted "we can trust the police" but admitted "there is a problem" with how cases of rape and violence against women are handled.

The prime minister spoke following criticism at police in the wake of Sarah Everard's murder.

She was falsely arrested by Met officer Wayne Couzens, who then raped and killed her. He was sentenced to life in prison this week.

Speaking to broadcasters, Mr Johnson said: "I do believe in the police. I do think that we can trust the police. And I think the police do a wonderful, wonderful job.

"But there is a problem. And there is a problem in the way we handle rape, domestic violence, sexual violence and the way we handle the complaints of women and girls. And it's overwhelmingly women and girls.

"And, although the incidence of some of these serious crimes is not actually going up in the way that you might think - we are having success in getting many crime types down - the problem is we have too few prosecutions for rape and too few successful prosecutions, too few convictions."

Read more: Under-fire Met tells women to ‘wave down a bus’ if they feel in danger during arrest

Read more: Met officers face investigation over offensive Whatsapp messages shared with Couzens

Metropolitan Police must be investigated following Couzens' sentencing

Wayne Couzens used his position as a Met officer to falsely arrest Ms Everard, using Covid laws as an excuse.

It has since emerged that an allegation over indecent exposure was made against Couzens just three days before he attacked the 33-year-old, preying on her as she walked alone through Clapham, South London.

Several Met officers are also facing an investigation into an allegation they shared misogynistic, racist and homophobic messages with Couzens months before he raped and murdered Ms Everard.

It has increased scrutiny on police officers and some, including Labour MP Harriet Harman, have called for the Met's commissioner Cressida Dick to go. Dame Cressida apologised after Couzens was sentenced.

Mr Johnson said "we've got to come down very hard" if officers did exchange messages of that nature, and said recruiting more female officers can make a "fundamental change".

Kit Malthouse's advice to women approached by officers 'doesn't tally'

"Should we believe in the police? Should we trust in the police? Yes I do," he said, adding he has confidence in the Met but that vetting needs to be looked into.

"And I think that Priti Patel is absolutely right, we've got to get to the bottom of what on earth happened with Wayne Couzens, we need to make sure that nothing like that happens again."

He also said that there will be "hundreds of thousands of police officers, let alone myself, up and down the country who will be absolutely heartsick by what has happened, the appalling murder of Sarah Everard by a police officer".

"And what I would really urge the public, I want to make it clear, I do believe in the police."

Mr Johnson added that about 37% of police recruits were female last year, and he hoped it would go above 40% this year.

He went on: "Are there things we need to do? Yes there are. Across a huge range of issues, from the way we handle these complaints to the way we speed up the whole criminal justice process. But should we have confidence in the police? Should we believe in policing? Absolutely."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Christopher Wreh was sent racist messages

Man who sent 'vile' racist social media message to professional footballer banned from all games

Fergus Ewing has quit the SNP after more than half a century of involvement.

SNP urged to put independence on backburner for 10 years

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement during a visit to the site of the Weizmann Institute of Science, which was hit by missiles fired from Iran, in the central city of Rehovot on Friday, June 20, 2025. (Jack Guez/Pool Photo via AP)

Iran launches fresh wave of missile strikes on Israel - as UK withdraws embassy staff from Tehran

Breaking
.

Counter terror police investigating after pro-Palestinian protesters damage aircraft in break-in at RAF Brize Norton

Jack Draper celebrates victory against Brandon Nakashima on day twelve of the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club

Jack Draper clinches important Wimbledon seeding by reaching Queen’s semi-finals

Muhammad Qasim's BMW was being followed by a marked police car on Island Road in Handsworth, West Midlands, when he failed to negotiate a left-hand bend and crashed into a tree.

Police driving expert has ‘no criticism’ of officer’s driving skills after car he was following crashed into tree, killing driver

Pharrell Garcia, 15, suffered a single stab wound to the heart.

Teenager locked up for stabbing school friend to death 'by accident' in east London park

Wasif Hussain (left), 21, and his wife Nabela Tabassum, 19, who were jailed for 15 years and nine years, respectively,

Couple who wore Poundland animal masks during attempted murder jailed

Police launch murder probe after man in his 40s shot dead outside Costco superstore

Police launch murder probe after man in his 40s shot dead near Costco superstore

Sinner said: “I am very happy and honoured to be part of this project with Andrea"

World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner to release duet with Andrea Bocelli

'Ready to serve': Meet one of the UK's youngest mayors driving change in her community

Young people just aren’t seeing the right leaders, says one of the UK’s youngest mayors aged just 29

The 'Swan Whisperer' was handed a two-year ban from Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

Fowl Play: ‘Swan whisperer’ banned from Hyde Park after hugging and kissing protected birds

The "Bayesian" yacht that was struck by a pre-dawn storm in August last year while anchored off Porticello sunk within minutes killing British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, and six others.

First glimpse of tech tycoon Mike Lynch's Bayesian superyacht as its raised from seabed

Jennifer Abbot, 69, was discovered stabbed to death in her Camden home

Woman, 69, charged with murder of film director 'over diamond-encrusted Rolex' revealed as victim's sister

HRH King Emere Godwin Okpabi joins the protest - A solidarity demonstration at the High Court on the first day of the major court hearing.

50,000 members of two Nigerian communities taking Shell to High Court over systemic oil pollution

Three men have been convicted of a series of sexual offences, including rape, on a 12-year-old girl over a three-day period.

Three men repeatedly raped girl, 12, and locked her in caravan for 72 hours after luring her from Asda carpark