To follow what Dave said, an aspect of this I find detestable is the "advice" I sometimes hear about how women should protect themselves: don't go out alone, don't go out late at night, always plan your route, watch how you dress, avoid unlit areas, if stopped by a policeman always ask for his credentials, and all the rest of it. All that reveals to me is that we have a bloody big problem with MEN. I should think that most women are fearful enough about being out on the streets that they don't need to be patronisingly given that sort of advice, and why SHOULD they have to behave as though the streets are permanently filled with predatory men anyway? That approach is coming at the issue from completely the wrong angle. I don't pretend to know the answers to this but I really hope that this horrid incident will be a game-changer and that it doesn't just turn into yet another nine-day news wonder.

Two other points: first, Sarah Everard DID see his police credentials, and it's my guess that one hundred percent of people put in that situation would have been convinced by that policeman. So much for the specious advice to women to ask for credentials. Second, Cressida Dick needs to do a rapid disappearing act.