Women's Charity Hits Back At 'Bizarre' Plan To Put Plain Clothes Police Officers In Night Clubs

A leading women's charity has slammed the government's proposals to put plain clothes police officers in bars and nightclubs as "bizarre."

The Centre for Women's Justice released a statement which highlighted their concern that the government had failed to consult them, or the numerous specialist women's sector organisations, about their proposed plans to keep them safer.

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The plans to put undercover police in bars and restaurants come in the wake of the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard earlier this month. The 33-year-old vanished while walking home from a friend's house in Clapham, with her body found in woodlands in Kent last week.

Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens has been charged with Sarah's murder and abduction. He is expected to enter his plea in July.

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A spokesperson told Tyla: "This is quite frankly a bizarre idea particularly when women's faith in the police has been so damaged with recent events. Many women will now be quite rightly asking 'but who will protect me from the plain clothes officer?'.

"Undercover policing has recently been exposed as providing an opportunity for police officers to abuse their cover in forming inappropriate sexual contact with women. This initiative needs much more informed consideration.

"There are many specialist women's sector organisations, like us, who are desperately calling for action and support from the government but none of us appear to have been consulted.

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"A woman is killed every three days in UK. Rape prosecutions are at an all-time low. We want perpetrators charged and prosecuted. And, we want the police and state agencies such as the CPS to take responsibility for failing to do so."

As a response to mounting pressure from the public about women's safety, the government has said it will double its Safer Streets fund to £45m, which provides for things like better lighting and CCTV.

Ministers will work with police forces and police and crime commissioners to make sure these are targeted at areas of potential concern for women.

Topics: UK News, Life News, Sarah Everard, News

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley