Sarah Everard murder: Policing minister Kit Malthouse says it’s ‘reasonable’ to call 999 to identify lone officers

The policing minister has said it would be “perfectly reasonable” for anyone being approached by a lone police officer to call 999 and seek reassurance in the wake of the rape and murder of Sarah Everard.

Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley, Kit Malthouse gave advice on what people should do if they are approached by a lone police officer, although he said most do not patrol on their own.

Yesterday, Wayne Couzens, a serving officer at the time, was given a whole life sentence for the kidnap, rape and murder of Ms Everardin March this year.

Mr Malthouse said: “If anybody has any doubts about that police officer, they should question the officer on what they’re doing and if there are any doubts they should ask to speak to the control room on that officer’s radio or call 999… that is the devastating consequence of this awful man’s actions.”

He added: “I think it would be perfectly reasonable in similar circumstances for somebody to question the officer, seek reassurance, if that means asking them to identify themselves by speaking to the control room or calling in 999 if they feel in danger, then I’m afraid that’s where we’ve got to.”

Mr Malthouse said Couzens’ actions have “undermined the good work of thousands and thousands of police officers”.

The policing minister said the murder of Ms Everard by Couzens was a “devastating blow” to the police but defended Met Commissioner Cressida Dick after calls for her resignation.

He said that Ms Everard’s kidnap, rape and murder had “struck a devastating blow to confidence in the police, and in the Met Police in particular”.

Zoe Billingham, former Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, told Sky News the focus now needs to be on what needs to change in policing and what needs to be learned from “this monster so it can never ever happen again”.