We need a law that protects women
It is our human right to walk around without fear. When I was in my teens I visited a public toilet block, and as I opened the cubicle door, a guy who had been staring at me all night pushed the door open. I managed to get past him.
My boyfriend was waiting for me outside and dealt with the situation. Fifty years later, I still get anxious about using public loos.
A state of permanent anxiety experienced by all women is damaging to our health. The low rate of successful cases brought to court deters many women from reporting incidents, whether they are of assault, rape or stalking, - all of which are life-changing.
Last Sunday’s vigil in Clapham, which turned a respectful silent and loving space into anything-but, demonstrated the Met’s lack of cooperation with the planning group of Sarah’s friends and family; and the inappropriate use of violence smacked of an unhealthy culture of misogyny.
British justice needs shaking up, and the plans coming into force to prevent demonstrations suggest a total lack of emotional intelligence by Cressida Dick and Priti Patel for her proposal to ban demonstrations.
Those following international news have witnessed what happens when a repressive far-right regime tries to stifle dissent: the Arab Spring turned into a river of pain and blood and anger; Erdogan’s Turkey sacked those who are secular and intelligent enough to see the birth of another Islamic state, and Myanmar is the latest heart-breaking example of the supposed upholders of justice turning into savage beasts - killing their own people - as if it were a video game
Let’s not lose the momentum. Instead we can start the process of creating a Sarah Everard Law, so that this beautiful human being’s gruesome death is not a senseless waste: a law which protects women against police dismissal of their assault claims, as if they were petty pick-pocketing incidents.
A tiny number of proven false accusations is no excuse for the remaining 99.9 per cent who have been assaulted, raped or stalked being denied justice and a chance of closure.
There seems to be a need for a ministerial department, but in the present reign of Priti Patel’s Home Office (Home?) that would be similar to the situation of builders overseeing building regulations!
So my suggestion is for a publicly-funded website, and/or a dedicated organisation; maybe funded by £5 per subscription, which would raise £multi-millions, and be the cheapest insurance policy ever; - a place, virtual or physical, where women can report what has happened to them - as well as officially reporting the crime.
If the police know it is on record they may be more inclined to follow the investigation through.
In fairness, I realise that the police have experienced the kind of cuts you would expect in Trump’s America. Funding needs to be reinstated with a large chunk ‘ringfenced’ for the protection of women – who make up 50 per cent of the population.
When this has been executed, there will no longer be the excuse of ‘not enough resources.’
The status quo is totally unacceptable in a so-called civilised country where a century ago women fought for equality and voting and ownership rights. Let’s prevent the need for another Suffragette Movement by immediate action from the government.
This will give them a chance to redeem their reputation with the millions of women who have shouldered the burden of homeschooling, while working from home.
Misha Carder