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Police Must Win Back Public Confidence After Sarah Everard Case

Police must win back public confidence after Sarah Everard case, says minister

Police will have to work hard to rebuild public confidence following the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens, a minister has said, as Scotland Yard said people stopped by a lone plainclothes officer should challenge their legitimacy.

Couzens, who joined the Metropolitan police in 2018, was handed a rare whole-life sentence on Thursday for the kidnap, rape and murder of 33-year-old Everard as she walked home in south London in March.

The Met announced on Thursday night it would no longer deploy plainclothes officers on their own after the sentencing hearing was told Couzens had used lockdown rules to falsely arrest Everard during the abduction.

On Friday, the policing minister, Kit Malthouse, told Sky News: “[The police] recognise that this has struck a devastating blow to the confidence that people have in police officers but also in the Met police in particular.

“For those thousands and thousands of police officers out there who will have to work harder – much harder – to win public trust it is a very, very difficult time.”

The Met has encouraged members of the public to challenge lone plainclothes police officers if they are ever approached, asking 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.

They also suggest verifying the police officer by asking to hear their radio operator or asking to speak to the radio operator themselves.

“All officers will, of course, know about this case and will be expecting in an interaction like that – rare as it may be – that members of the public may be understandably concerned and more distrusting than they previously would have been, and should and will expect to be asked more questions,” the force said in a statement.

The advice was issued as pressure mounted on the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, to resign over the case, which has sparked a national outcry over the safety of women on Britain’s streets.

The Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, Labour MP Harriet Harman and Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse are among those calling for the beleaguered Met chief to step down.

Malthouse backed the commissioner on Friday, adding that the role was one of the “most difficult jobs in the country”.

“What I want in a policing leader is when awful calamities like this happen … I want a police leader who is transparent, willing to learn, willing to change and has a conviction and a commitment not to be defensive about the failings of the organisation and that’s what we’re seeing in Cressida Dick,” he said.

“She is a dedicated and talented and committed police officer who is driving the Metropolitan police to ever greater standards of care and improvement and fighting crime.”

On Thursday, a former senior Met officer said women in the police were afraid to report their male colleagues for misconduct due to fears they would be abandoned if they needed help.

Parm Sandhu, a former chief superintendent in the Met, said she had been “vilified” when she raised concerns about the way she was treated. She told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One: “The police service is very sexist and misogynistic. A lot of women will not report their colleagues.

“What happens is that male police officers will then close ranks and the fear that most women police officers have got is that when you are calling for help, you press that emergency button or your radio, they’re not going to turn up and you’re going to get kicked in the street.”

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Tinubu condoles with NNPCL boss over daughter’s death

President Bola Tinubu has condoled the death of his daughter with the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr Kolo Mele Kyari.

Kyari’s daughter, Fatima died Friday at the age of 25 after protracted illness.

The President sympathised with Kyari and the rest of the family on the irreparable and painful loss.

He prayed for the repose of the soul of Fatima and urged the Kyari family to stay strong at these trying times

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Lagos sacks six LASTMA officials over misconduct

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has dismissed six of its officials based on the directive from the Lagos State Civil Service Commission (CSC).

This follows the recommendations of the Personnel Management Board, which flagged the officers for serious misconduct and inefficiency.

The disciplinary actions were officially communicated to the affected officials at LASTMA’s headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos.

In a statement issued by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed that the Civil Service Commission had approved the board’s recommendations.

He emphasised that the disciplinary measures were in strict accordance with the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

Bakare-Oki reassured the public that LASTMA is committed to improving its operations and urged Lagos residents to report both commendable acts and cases of misconduct by LASTMA officials, providing necessary evidence.

“This exercise is part of our ongoing efforts to rid the agency of errant officers. Another Personnel Management Board meeting will soon be held to review additional cases,” he said.

He also called on road users in Lagos to adhere to traffic laws, reminding them that violations would lead to penalties, including fines imposed by the Lagos Mobile Courts.

Highlighting the importance of compliance, Bakare-Oki noted that following traffic regulations is key to achieving Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s “Greater Lagos” vision, with traffic management being a core pillar of the THEMES Plus Development Agenda.

Mmebers of the public were encouraged to report complaints through LASTMA’s toll-free hotline (080000527862) or the Walk-In Complaint Centre at their Oshodi headquarters.

Bakare-Oki reassured citizens that LASTMA is committed to addressing all complaints impartially while protecting the civil rights of motorists across the state.

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Zulum opens houses for teachers in Buratai Secondary School in Tum

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday night, commissioned two projects constructed by his administration in Biu Local Government Area in the southern part of the state.

The projects include a housing estate for teachers in Buratai town and a new secondary school in Tum village.

The Buratai housing estate comprises 10 units of two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows aimed at addressing the problem of housing deficit particularly as it affects teachers in Borno State.

Tum Day Secondary School, one of the 102 constructed by the Zulum administration is a co-educational senior secondary school attached with junior secondary and primary schools.

Performing the brief opening ceremony, Zulum assured that his administration is committed to improving the quality of healthcare service delivery and education in Borno State.

He said, “I want to assure you that this administration is committed to providing affordable quality health care delivery systems and, most importantly, education, which is the bedrock for any meaningful development. Without education, there will be no meaningful development.”

As a mark of appreciation for the numerous projects by the Zulum administration, Buratai community presented a plaque to the governor commending his integrity in governance.