Met defends action it is taking in light of Sabina Nessa murder as Sarah Everard anniversary approaches

The Met says it has introduced a string of measures to protect women in the streets of London since the killing of Sarah Everard a year ago this week – and the murder of Sabina Nessa last September 17.

It has introduced specialist predatory offenders units and town centre teams as well as asking women’s groups where they do not feel safe.

It has also linked up with restaurants and pubs to train staff on how to keep safe both at work and travelling home at night.

A statement from the Met said: “The Met fully appreciates that Sabina’s murder and other shocking incidents have heightened concerns about violence against women and girls in London.  We completely share that concern and that is why tackling violence, including crimes that disproportionately affect women and girls, remains our top priority.  Our commitment has not wavered and we will not stop our relentless efforts.”

Actions the Met says it has taken to make streets safer over the last 18 months include:

• Established Predatory Offenders’ Units across London to arrest and charge those who carry out violence, much of it domestic or sexual. Since November 2020 they have arrested over 2,500 suspects of which over half of cases were related to domestic abuse.
• It is in the process of deploying 650 new officers into new town centre teams, working in city centres and high streets, meaning communities will see local officers in their local areas. The statement said: “We know that to be effective we need to work side by side with Londoners and that greater police visibility will increase confidence.”
• Last year the force set up a number of ‘walk and talk’ schemes in command units where neighbourhood officers buddied up with women in the community to hear about any locations in which they feel vulnerable and start discussions about how these concerns can be alleviated. It announced today (Friday, 25 February ) announced that this scheme will be rolled out across the capital.
• It has stepped up patrols of open spaces across London and transport hubs, providing an increased police intelligence where needed in key hotspot locations
• It is also working closely with the hospitality sector and those involved in the night-time economy to raise awareness of how they can help keep women safe in their premises. It says it has reinvigorated Ask for Angela to provide people feeling unsafe or vulnerable with a discreet way of asking for help from venue staff. Welfare and safety training has been given to hundreds of staff working in bars and clubs.

The statement said: “We asked the public what more they would like to see us doing and they will see we have acted on that feedback when we publish our updated Violence against Women and Girls plan at the end of March. We are ambitious and are transforming – we are listening to experiences of women and girls, we are acting on the findings from independent reviews and we are learning from other forces.”

Helen Ellwood, CPS London Homicide prosecutor, said: “Sabina Nessa was 28 years old when her life was cut short as a result of truly evil violence inflicted upon her as she walked through a park.

“Koci Selamaj has shown little remorse for this premeditated and predatory attack on a lone woman who was a stranger to him. His cowardly actions devastated a family and caused immeasurable pain to all those who knew and loved Sabina.

“The prosecution was able to build the strongest possible case resulting in Selamaj admitting his guilt as a result of a meticulous investigation led by the Metropolitan Police Service which included an extensive review of CCTV footage and detailed forensic work.

“The CPS is committed to prosecuting violence against women and girls and we hope this conviction provides some sense of justice for the family and friends of Sabina Nessa. Our thoughts remain very much with them at this time.”

Main Picture: Sarah Everard, (inset) Sabina Nessa