A body was found in a large builder’s bag in Kent woodland and identified as that of missing 33-year-old female, Sarah Everard.
What do we know? Sarah left her friend’s house around 9pm on Wednesday 3rd March. On Saturday 6th March, the police released CCTV footage of Sarah. In the days that followed, her family and friends expressed deep concern, as her going missing was incredibly out of character and she was notably wearing casual, gym style-clothing, including trainers.
At midnight on Tuesday 9th March, a serving police officer is arrested. A woman was also arrested and later released on bail. Neighbours reported that the police officer’s garden was beginning to be dug up by detectives. Police confirm on Wednesday 10th March, the body found in the woodland is revealed to be that of Sarah Everard. She was identified by dental records.
Her family are of course devastated, as are many women across the country.
Every once in a while, a case hits the headlines that grips the nation. With this case, it reignited, triggered and created a lot of anger amongst women who are quite frankly exhausted by not feeling safe enough when walking the streets.
According to the Office for National Statistics figures for year ending March 2020, the homicide rate was 11.7 per million population, with the rate for males (17 per million population) almost three times that for females (6 per million population). So, in theory, women are safer than men on the streets. However, if you speak to your friends and family, you will hear the opposite. Many men wouldn’t think twice about taking a run in the dark, whereas many women feel trapped at home from sundown to sunrise.
What’s interesting is that we seem to live in a world where opinions are now considered facts and provable facts are easily discarded. Why then when women are revealing their deepest, darkest secrets about their fear of men that has developed over many years of intimidating and abusive behaviour, are certain sections of people now taking the side of the facts? It’s important that we do look at facts, but what can’t be ignored is the stories told by women who have been harassed and/or assaulted. This is backed up by the statistic that 97% of women aged between 18-24 have been sexually harassed.
PS – I tried not to mention #notallmen, but unfortunately, I’m going to fail. Anyone promoting #notallmen is dangerous and disheartening. Just because you’ve never sexually assaulted someone, does not give you free reign to soothe your ego/guilty conscience or ignore the issue entirely. Of course, we know it’s not all men, but in the dark, honestly, how can we tell who is the good guy?
Importsnt words, Kelly. Thank you both for sharing this. xo