‘Wave down bus if don’t trust police’
WOMEN have been advised to wave down a bus or shout out to passers-by if they are stopped by a police officer they do not trust.
The Metropolitan Police made a string of suggestions on what people could do if they are approached by an officer but have concerns they are not acting legitimately as it set out a series of measures it was taking in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard.
It was suggested people should ask where the officer’s colleagues are; where they have come from; why they are there; and exactly why they are stopping or talking to them.
Anyone could verify the police officer by asking to hear their radio operator or asking to speak to the radio operator themselves, the force said, before suggesting those with concerns could shout out to a passer-by, run into a house, knock on a door, wave a bus down, or call 999.
The Met stressed the advice was given for specific, and rare, scenarios people might find themselves in.
The force said: “It is unusual for a single plain clothes police officer to engage with anyone in London. If that does happen, and it may do for various reasons, in instances where the officer is seeking to arrest you, you should then expect to see other officers arrive shortly afterwards.
“However, if that doesn’t happen and you do find yourself in an interaction with a sole police officer and you are on your own, it is entirely reasonable for you to seek further reassurance of that officer’s identity and intentions.”
It added: “If after all of that you feel in real and imminent danger and you do not believe the officer is who they say they are, for whatever reason, then I would say you must seek assistance - shouting out to a passer-by, running into a house, knocking on a door, waving a bus down or if you are in the position to do so, calling 999.”
The advice came as the Met said it would deploy 650 new officers into busy public places and increase patrols to do more to protect women and girls.
The force also promised to “step up” patrols in areas identified as “hotspot” locations for violence and harassment, and plain clothes officers will now work in pairs where possible.
Patsy Stevenson, who was arrested at the vigil for Sarah Everard in March, said the Metropolitan Police’s suggestions of knocking on a door or waving a bus down were “almost laughable if it wasn’t so disgusting”.
Ms Stevenson told the PA news agency: “I feel like they are just clutching at straws, because the advice isn’t relevant. It’s like a distraction because, number one, in that situation, you can’t just stop and hail down a bus or a taxi or something.
“Can you imagine the distrust that people have right now where they have to protect themselves from the police in that manner? That is shocking.”
She said if someone had done something illegal it is the police giving them permission to run off, adding: “It doesn’t make any sense. It’s like an irrelevant piece of advice.