We need to root out poison in the police

AS KIDS we were told that if we were lost or had any sort of problem, we should “ask a policeman” to help. What parent would say that now?

We know decent police officers are as appalled as anyone else by whatwayne Couzens did. But once trust is eroded it is very hard to rebuild.

Like so many of us, I’ve – unwillingly but inescapably – dwelled on what must have gone through Sarah Everard’s mind on that fateful evening in early March.

When Couzens stopped her and claimed he was arresting her for breaching Covid lockdown regulations she must have felt anxiety [nobody likes being stopped by the police, let alone handcuffed], then irritation but an initial confidence that she was not in any real peril. Because he was a police officer. It would be all right.

Then, as his car sped through the night, for miles and miles, her fear mounted. No escape. Helpless.

The statements by Sarah’s family read out in court last week were especially shocking and very brave.

Sister Katie’s statement spoke of the unspeakable and made us think again about the unthinkable.

A number of police officers are under investigation over racist, sexist messages exchanged in a Whatsapp group that Couzens belonged to.

Meanwhile, a criminal inquiry is underway into two officers over claims selfies were taken at the London park murder scene of sisters Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry.

While we rightly mark the bravery of so many police officers, it’s clear something is going badly wrong in the way the force polices itself.

Nothing can be done to bring Sarah Everard back, but we must root out the evil culture poisoning those to whom we are supposed to turn for help.