Sarah Everard: 'We should all be angry' says Bassetlaw councillor

Coun Helen Tamblyn-Saville, Bassetlaw District councillor for Retford West, said she had been left ‘upset and angry’ by the death of the 33-year-old and ensuing posts from horrified women on social media.

Sarah Everard, a marketing executive from South London, was reported missing earlier this month. Her remains were found in Kent on March 10.

Now Wayne Couzens, a 48-year-old police officer from Kent, is due to appear in court after being arrested on suspicion of her kidnap and murder.

Coun Tamblyn-Saville said she was distressed to see countless women subsequently sharing their stories of sexual harassment and and assault, revealing she had had her own experiences and adding: “We should all be angry.”

"I don't feel Retford is an unsafe town,” said Coun Tamblyn-Saville.

"But it doesn't stop me walking that bit faster if I'm alone after dark. It doesn't change the palatable sigh of relief when I reach home.

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"The anxiety when I hear footsteps behind me is real and that's something that sadly many women relate to.

"Just this week, I have been contacted by others sharing their anxieties. We know it isn't all men and we don't need to be told that. But the fact remains, at night especially, we're anxious and hearing footsteps or walking past a group is intimidating.

"Something has to change. For too long, the conversation has been about women's behaviour.

"That has to change and we all have to be part of the conversation to change that narrative and take action."

Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith also paid tribute to Sarah Everard, adding that ‘nobody shoyld have to feel unsafe walking the streets’.

“The kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard has shocked us all and her family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time,” he said.

"Many women have since come forwards with their own experiences and we share their commitment to stamping out violence against women and girls.

"The people perpetrating these horrific crimes should face the strongest possible punishments and it must not be swept under the carpet as it has been in the past.”

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