Sarah Everard

[ProphecyGirl]

It's just so horrible.
It makes me so mad people question girls when something happens to them "why where you walking alone?" Why were you so drunk?" "why are you walking late at night?" "why weren't you covered up"
WHY should women have to worry about this? Sarah was walking home from her friends, I have no idea if they were drinking but she was obviously not drunk, she was wearing bright clothes and covered up. Yet something still happened to her.

It's horrible what's happened to her but it goes way beyond this. It's things as simple down to cat calling which makes us feel uncomfortable. It's a shame there's so many sickos out there in the world

 

[reCAPTCHA]

One thing I keep thinking is that he must not be that bright. I know he is in the Met and all, but to take someone from a very busy location with all the risk of CCTV and dash cam footage seems a strange choice. As does hiring a car, surely he would realise it would obviously be linked to him.. And as for indecent exposure outside a fast food restaurant... that was caught on CCTV, It is really brazen surely if you were switched on you wouldn't have done something so public. On the other hand it scares me to think that he could have started out flashing (or worse) women in more rural areas that aren't built up. I suppose he may have either been trying to push limits or perhaps was being more manic with his urges and therefore not thinking as logically.

Brazen, and cocky. I think it will become apparent that he’s done this before, sadly.

 

[Mountrushmoor]

I do find it very strange that this case has been thrust into the media from very early on. It's like they were aware this was going to be the worst possible outcome and a big case! And low and behold the circumstances have shown that.

I mean, dont get me wrong it should be in the media to maximize coverage and increase the chance of finding someone alive. And its absolutely devastating that this isnt the case with Sarah.
But on the other hand there are missing people constantly and lots never make it beyond local news.

I think most cases of spontaneous disappearances make it into the national press. The fact that loads of people shared it early on meant the media jumped on it as a popular story. A few years ago a lady near me went missing and it made the national press, there was a huge search for her. She was found in the cemetery a week later. They got the guy on cctv pushing her body down a main road in a wheelie bin. It was well covered in the news and so was his initial appearance in court. They’ll also go off clicks on stories early on and if people are clicking, reading and sharing it then more will be written about it - unfortunately that’s how it works! Most news sites and apps have algorithms that keep the most ready stories at the top (I’m an ex journalist) the fact women identify with her and are tweeting about it constantly will also mean it is kept in the news and because it’s kicked off a massive debate about women’s safety. And obviously him being a police officer would have amped the coverage. Fear sells! So I don’t think it’s suspicious. I’m not usually one to follow these things but I have read every post on it - it’s horrifying and it could have been any of us!

 

[Tippingpoint23]

I work in education and we do a whole lesson with the boys on all of this, we don’t have much time but we have constantly kept adding things about how to help women feel safe

So glad to hear this! Was definitely not the case in my school at the time but perhaps they have started doing similar as it’s been a few years!

 

[Flossy2019]

I guess we just don't know. He might have asked her about breaching lockdown and then threatened to arrest her if she didn't comply and get in the car. I mean, who knows what fuckery and evil lies a psychopath could come up with. As others have mentioned, it could also have been done with force.

He wasn’t on duty at the time ? But I guess he could have showed his badge. I would never walk alone at night as I’m really anxious being out alone in the dark. Even in broad day light I stick to roads and don’t go down any side streets or fields or paths etc that aren’t near busy roads I spend my life looking over my shoulder. My dad used to be a police man he’s retired now and drilled it into me to never walk alone in the dark and never trust anyone who approaches you etc.

 

[Mascaragirl]

I had a nightmare last night about this, I’m exhausted. Haven’t had a nightmare in years. Didn’t realise how much this is affecting me.

 

[BettyCrocker]

I really hope that his colleagues don't try to let him off with 'mental health'. It's appalling how many of us on this thread have said of times where something happened and police weren't interested Also astonishing how many men on social media are either butt hurt or, saying things like "women tell us how we can be more aware"....erm, it's f**king obvious, don't perv on people, dont catcall, don't w*** on public transport, don't follow people home, take 'NO' as the answer and BACK OFF, don't walk directly behind women when you can cross the road instead. Why should women have to tell you how to behave?! Makes me so angry how a lot of people say they didn't realise this happens to women all the time. Must be a nice privilege to be male where this rit doesn't cross the mind.

His police colleagues can’t let him off with anything nor do anything else. The police are not the people who pass punishments. They are there to gather evidence for the case, this is all then passed to the CPS who will then review what the police have got and make a decision on what happens next.

 

[thegirlscout]

I also think one of the reasons it’s in the media so much because even though (sadly) women being murdered by men is common, women being abducted from our streets is rare. Combined with him being a met officer and women online voicing their own stories and how they relate to Sarah it’s gained so much exposure. I’ve seen people talking about it on social media who live abroad and usually these cases don’t make waves anywhere but here. Plus it was also around International Women’s Day. I think it’s a combination of things.

 

[grace28]

He wasn’t on duty at the time ? But I guess he could have showed his badge. I would never walk alone at night as I’m really anxious being out alone in the dark. Even in broad day light I stick to roads and don’t go down any side streets or fields or paths etc that aren’t near busy roads I spend my life looking over my shoulder. My dad used to be a police man he’s retired now and drilled it into me to never walk alone in the dark and never trust anyone who approaches you etc.

He would have still had his badge and if he’s just come off duty at the embassy he would have being wearing smart clothes, potentially even awhite shirt with the police logo on it? He certainly wouldn’t have being in full uniform I imagine. I was also thinking if he works at the Palace of Westminster, he would probably be trained in restraint in terms of like anti terror , so even grabbing Sarah and putting her in the car and cuffs in seconds isn’t a big leap.

I just hope that she was the first and the last but them more I think about it, I think the police might fear they’ll be other woman in the local area who have seemingly gone missing but were on the fringes of society :-( and haven’t being in the radar until now. That’s why In my head as morbid as it sounds there are still teams digging his house, garage and the woodland.

 

[Bettyboo2475]

Websleuths are mostly talking about the indecent exposure charge and the wife’s involvement. The main theory which sounds very plausible to me, is that he might’ve just said something to his wife like “can you say I was home at X time on Y date, it will save my job” and she went along with it, not realising it was something so huge. Once she realised she might’ve cooperated with the police and hence was released on bail. Of course there’s the possibility of abuse too.
In terms of the indecent exposure, I find things like that slip under the radar all the time in London. A lot of people are minding their own business, heads down, earphones in, don’t even notice anything happened. This time last year, just before the pandemic hit I was heading to stansted early in the morning. I took a bus from the city centre to Tottenham Hale station, a man sat down in a seat facing the opposite direction to me and began to stare at me the entire journey. When I got to the station he followed me in, all the way to the platform. I went into a seated area thinking it would be safer because there were 10-15 people inside but he followed me in, shouted very graphic abusive/sexual things at me, and eventually spat at me two or three times. And it went on until he eventually left of his own accord after maybe about 15 minutes of that, though it felt like an eternity, and I was terrified as to how far he would follow me. No one asked if I was okay or checked on me, or said anything to him. Lots of people just don’t want to get involved.

That’s awful. I’m so sorry. It’s called bystander apathy. People are less likely to help in an emergency situation if other people are around. It makes no sense xx

 

[Jawge]

I also think one of the reasons it’s in the media so much because even though (sadly) women being murdered by men is common, women being abducted from our streets is rare. Combined with him being a met officer and women online voicing their own stories and how they relate to Sarah it’s gained so much exposure. I’ve seen people talking about it on social media who live abroad and usually these cases don’t make waves anywhere but here. Plus it was also around International Women’s Day. I think it’s a combination of things.

Also probably because she did exactly what we are all taught to do, so lots of women can relate to the case.

Sadly, I think the coverage is also an effect of missing white woman syndrome

 

[lalalanded]

Before lockdown I would have to go to Worthing frequently. This would be in the evening, at about 17:30 - 20:30. On the way back to the train station, I thought it would be relatively safe because although the centre of town isn't exactly nice, it was very busy main roads with loads of CCTV. I now realise that I was fortunate that nothing has ever happened to me. The closest I came on that journey was a group of men from a woman-hating religion, one of them staring at me with absolute hatred as I walked by.

Georgina Gharsallah went missing from Worthing, and her family have tried so hard to help find her. The mum tried to contact the police any time the family and friends had new information, and the police actually told her off and said she was affecting staff morale. Sussex police have utterly failed in their duty, including not bothering to secure vital CCTV evidence of her in Worthing town centre on the day she went missing, so most of it was lost, and also deciding that a retracted witness statement saying that they'd seen a distressed Georgina being dragged down the main road by her elbows by two men that evening, was of no importance.

The police also mentioned that she had an "unconventional lifestyle", which can be translated as "Meh, whatever. Just another probable muggy".

It is interesting which cases the police and the media decide to publicise. Part of me wonders if the police knew they had some good leads with the Sarah Everard case early on, and so knew that this case would be solved quickly and make themselves look competent. Whereas Sussex police massively ducked up with Georgina, and have severely ducked up in other cases too, especially the stalking victim who was convicted of wasting police time after reporting her stalker, who then went on to murder her.

They didn't.

 

[Buffy]

His police colleagues can’t let him off with anything nor do anything else. The police are not the people who pass punishments. They are there to gather evidence for the case, this is all then passed to the CPS who will then review what the police have got and make a decision on what happens next.

This the police have no say on charging they present the evidence they have & the charge they are seeking to the CPS who have the say on if & what he is charged with.

 

[BettyBeau]

Potentially not, but the scenario undeniably sets up a possibility for coercion, control and abuse of the overseas spouse. It’s an easy win for someone that way inclined to get a wife who is subservient and doesn’t know how to call the police or get help.

He is the police

 

[Tippingpoint23]

This the police have no say on charging they present the evidence they have & the charge they are seeking to the CPS who have the say on if & what he is charged with.

Presumably as well his direct colleagues have no involvement in the search or case? Just because they’re police and work in the met doesn’t mean they know him or would have any reason to protect him!

 

[lalalanded]

Years ago I knew someone who was a sys admin for a rail company, which meant she could look at anything on the company server at will. She found a stash of child pornography squirreled away on one fella's work computer. Had to call in the police and he was arrested and also lost his job. She also said it really wasn't uncommon to find normal porn on men's desktop drives either. I guess they all do it on their phones instead now - this was back in the days when basic Nokias were a thing. It's lovely to think fellas are so obsessed with it they need to keep it at bloody work as well as at home.

My friend is an HR manager and I was expressing my shock at the former cabinet minister Damian Green watching (allegedly) choking porn in his parliamentary office whilst at work and she told me it was not unusual at all and she's sacked many a person over it. I still find that utterly shocking.

 

[GossipBlue]

Morality is learned.

What a strange argument to take potential blame away from his childhood which is where issues are likely to have stemmed from.

What a strange argument? I was simply stating that you couldn’t lay the blame of his crime at his parents door. How on earth do you know it stemmed from his childhood? Even if it did it doesn’t mean it’s his parents’ fault does it?

 

[Bitofthebubbly]

My friend is an HR manager and I was expressing my shock at the former cabinet minister Damian Green watching (allegedly) choking porn in his parliamentary office whilst at work and she told me it was not unusual at all and she's sacked many a person over it. I still find that utterly shocking.

Disgusting. Men who watch porn at work are total saddos.

 

[WadieHaddadsChocolates]

It's just so horrible.
It makes me so mad people question girls when something happens to them "why where you walking alone?" #

I always wonder, do they think life is remotely workable without 'walking alone' sometimes, or even a lot depending on your life and income? I mean, do they believe we should all be accompanied by a professional bodyguard or beefy male chaperone, or refuse to leave the house for work without an entertainer, or leave work and return home without same? Do they think adult human beings should always travel in terrified little packs? Do they think life just stops for women when it goes dark? Or that we would want it to? How about shift workers? How about anyone who even works 9-5 in northern Europe? I've had winters when I've walked to work in darkness and returned in darkness because that's how the bloody sun works at this latitude. Where I live in late November we're usually losing the light by 3pm, ffs.

If someone wants to pay for taxis everywhere for us annoying walking women, they can paypal me. Oh, but wait. Women have been grape and/or murdered by taxi drivers. So. Where does that leave us? Women shouldn't take taxis alone? You keep going with this and it ends up with us in bleeping seclusion, unable to live our lives because everything outside the house is potentially a risk.

And I always like to keep pointing this out; the vast majority of violence against women including murder takes place in their own homes and is perpetrated by their own partners or spouses. So where do we go from there? Women shouldn't get married? Have boyfriends? Exist?

I also find it so odd that some people truly seem to think violence and grape only happens after dark. Like no-one ever got grape or murdered in daylight. A whole host of murdered women would like to disagree. Rachel Nickell, for example.

 

[Buffy]

Presumably as well his direct colleagues have no involvement in the search or case? Just because they’re police and work in the met doesn’t mean they know him or would have any reason to protect him!

No they would not have any involvement to avoid any conflict of interest, in the same way a barrister would not prosecute someone they know or a juror would not be allowed to sit on a case if they knew anybody involved.

The Met is a huge police force & it’s entirely feasible that there are plenty of officers who had no previous dealings with him at all.
And I’m sure the last thing they want is to derail any future trial !!