London cops plan extra training to deal with attacks on women and sexual harassment after Sarah Everard vigil flasher

POLICE in the London borough where Sarah Everard disappeared are considering extra training for cops who are called to incidents where women are in danger.

Lambeth Police plan to “learn lessons” after a woman who was flashed at by a man near a memorial for Sarah was reportedly ignored by nearby officers.


Tensions with the force remain high after serving police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, was charged with Sarah’s murder and women were pinned to the ground and arrested at a candlelit vigil for the murdered 33-year-old.

Georgina, 27, told The Sun that when she first tried to report the indecent exposure to a male officer who was in the area, she was told “we’re not dealing with this”.

She said: “I was frankly really shocked given light of everything. I was walking my dog and we went via the vigil to observe quietly from afar.

“Afterwards I was walking to the main section near Clapham Common South Side around 8pm.

“There was a short white man in his 50s and I noticed him because he was flailing about and leaving over a railing.

“I was just trying to get past him and that’s when I noticed his genitals were out. He was waving himself about.

“I walked past and I could see there was a ton of police near the Windmill Pub. This isn’t the first time that this has happened in Clapham so I thought, this is great, I can go straight to tell the police about it.

“I went up to a group of police officers and said, excuse me, there’s a man up there who is either drunk or high, with his genitals out and I felt really uncomfortable.

“There was a group of maybe five or six of them and the policewoman said ok let’s go. Then one of the male officers came up and said ‘no, we’re not dealing with this, we’ve had enough with the riot tonight, we’re not dealing with this’.

“Really? After everything that’s happened, I felt really unsafe.”

'WORKING HARD TO RECTIFY MISTAKES'

She reported the incident online when she got back home and added the police have since been “working hard to rectify the first encounter”.

The Metropolitan Police told The Sun they are always looking to learn lessons from situations in order to better protect the public.

They said: “Discussions are ongoing, including with our local authority partners, to explore what additional training might be appropriate for frontline police officers who are called to incidents where women are concerned for their safety.”

Police have also released an e-fit of the flasher, who is described as wearing a bright red waistcoat or vest over a shirt and light coloured trousers.


Detective Constable Luke Flood said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the area or who can help identify this man involved to contact police. Clapham Common was extremely busy on that Saturday evening with people attending a vigil.

"Many people would have been filming or taking pictures and I would ask them to check any material they captured to see if they can identify the man described.

“We also cannot discount that there may have been other incidents of this nature in and around the Clapham Common area. I would urge anyone who has any information to get in contact.

"An incident of indecent exposure can be an extremely distressing offence for those who witness it and it is one police take very seriously.
“Officers have spoken to the victim in this case to offer her support and ensure she is kept updated with the progress of the investigation.”

Georgina had been attending a candlelit vigil for Sarah Everard, who went missing on March 3 while walking home after visiting a friend in Clapham, south London.

Her body had to be identified by dental records after being found in a builder's bag in Kent.

Anyone who can assist with Georgina's case is asked to contact 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD117/14MAR. 

Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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