Sarah Everard Vigil Organiser Demands National Action on Women's Safety
Five years after the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Metropolitan Police officer, the organiser of a commemorative vigil has declared that "much more needs to be done" on a national scale to ensure women feel safe and to combat violence against women and girls.
A Tragic Betrayal of Trust
Ms Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was walking home from a friend's house in south London on March 3, 2021, when she was abducted, raped, and murdered by officer Wayne Couzens. He exploited his position to deceive her into believing she could be arrested for breaching Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
On Tuesday evening, approximately 100 people gathered at Clapham Common, near the location of her abduction, to lay flowers, observe a poignant minute of silence, and collectively honour her memory.
Organiser's Stark Reality Check
Klara Fine, 29, who works with the event's organiser, Best of Clapham, shared a blunt perspective with the Press Association. "If a lone policeman came up to me and asked me to get into his car I would tell him to 'f' off, to be honest," she stated. "Unfortunately, that's the sad reality, and I think that violence against women in general starts from school, school boys."
Ms Fine emphasised that current efforts are insufficient. "At the moment it just feels like it's smaller communities who are providing safe spaces and supporting each other and charities, and it's just really not good enough," she explained. "Much more needs to be done on a national level."
Addressing the crowd, she reflected, "We're here this evening to remember her because she deserves to be remembered. We remember her not as a headline, not as a case, not as a moment in the news cycle, but as Sarah, a daughter, a friend, a woman with plans, laughter and the future ahead of her, cruelly taken away."
Community and Police Reflections
Joanna Reynolds, who served as ward councillor for Clapham Common at the time of the murder five years ago, highlighted the broader societal challenge. "We do need to reclaim the streets, reclaim the night," she asserted. "It's important that, for all of us and for our children and for any girls that are growing, that we make sure that it's not just about us women, it's about the men here. We need to make sure that they and the boys growing up understand how they should treat the women in their lives and the women that they see on the streets."
She added, "I cannot imagine what it was like for Sarah, at the moment she got into that car. Or for her family, and particularly her parents, how they must have felt during that time."
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley acknowledged the profound impact of the crime in a statement released earlier on Tuesday. "Sarah Everard should still be here," he said. "Five years have passed since her senseless and devastating murder. What happened to her was a profound betrayal: of her, of her family and loved ones, and of every person who places their trust in policing."
Sir Mark described Couzens' actions as "an unthinkable abuse of power and a total violation of the values that the Met, and policing stands for." He expressed that the incident "shook policing to its core" and extended a heartfelt apology: "We will always be deeply sorry: for the unimaginable harm done to Sarah, for the trauma endured by her family – who have shown extraordinary dignity in the face of unbearable grief – and for the profound damage inflicted on the trust Londoners should be able to place in their police service."
Personal Experiences and Ongoing Concerns
Attendee Izzy Airey, 24, from Brixton, shared her personal safety concerns. "I live locally and I come to the park often. I would never walk here alone at night, or like if I was to go home through here in dark I'd be like on a bike and like zooming through," she revealed. "So holding the vigil here, with a lot of women, and coming together basically to commemorate her, is actually super powerful."
She added, "Parks at night are obviously super dangerous, but the daily reality for women is that they have to just be careful." Regarding the police, Ms Airey expressed uncertainty: "You'd hope that they would listen to you, but I guess in reality I don't really know. I feel like I would probably contact my family before I call the police probably, because I think it's intimidating."
In a tribute piece for British Vogue, Ms Everard's mother, Susan, remembered her daughter fondly, stating she "added to the beauty of the world" and describing her as "thoughtful and dependable and highly principled."
Legacy and Future Steps
The vigil, organised by Best of Clapham, also served as a fundraiser for Solace Women's Aid, a London-based charity that supports women and children affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. This initiative underscores the community-driven efforts to address these critical issues.
Wayne Couzens was sentenced to a whole-life prison term at the Old Bailey in September 2021, ensuring he will never be released. However, as the vigil made clear, his crime continues to resonate deeply, prompting urgent calls for systemic change to enhance women's safety across the nation.
