Michael Sheen joins calls for police boss to quit amid accusations of victim blaming
Welsh actor Michael Sheen has joined a chorus of voices criticising a Yorkshire police boss for victim blaming, after he suggested that women should be more streetwise about what they can be arrested for.
North Yorkshire Police Federation Crime Commissioner Philip Allot sparked rage when he suggested that women should clue themselves up on what was an indictable offence, and that Sarah Everard should never have submitted to arrest.
His comments followed the sentencing of Ms Everard’s murderer this week, during which it was revealed that her horrific ordeal began by being tricked into a false arrest by a police officer carrying a warrant card and handcuffs.
The former police officer who snatched Ms Everard from a busy London street in March was handed a whole life sentence, the first of its kind for a crime committed by a serving officer.
Fury
Hastily retracting his comments came too late for furious critics, including Michael Sheen, who called for his sacking for his insensitivity.
Sheen was unequivocal in his message to Allott, who has tweeted a “wholehearted apology” for his comments, saying: “If you meant them – YOU SHOULD BE FIRED. If you didn’t mean them then your judgement is severely flawed – and YOU SHOULD BE FIRED. If it took you that long to realise you were ‘insensitive’ then your reaction time is appalling – and YOU SHOULD BE FIRED. #FirePhilipAllott”
If you meant them – YOU SHOULD BE FIRED. If you didn’t mean them then your judgement is severely flawed – and YOU SHOULD BE FIRED. If it took you that long to realise you were ‘insensitive’ then your reaction time is appalling – and YOU SHOULD BE FIRED. #FirePhilipAllott https://t.co/1y9ZJSMK9n
— michael sheen 💙 (@michaelsheen) October 1, 2021
Indictable
Conservative Mr Allott was speaking on BBC Radio York when he said “women should be aware this was not an indictable offence – one considered serious enough to warrant a prison sentence or crown court hearing.
“So, women, first of all, need to be streetwise about when they can be arrested and when they can’t be arrested. She should never have been arrested and submitted to that,” he said.
“Perhaps women need to consider in terms of the legal process, to just learn a bit about that legal process”.
After the furious outcry on social media, he tweeted “I would like to wholeheartedly apologise for my comments on BBC radio York earlier today, which I realise have been insensitive and wish to retract them in full.”
The police have come under fierce criticism this week following the sentencing of Wayne Couzens, for suggestions that women “runaway”, or “wave down a bus” or “refuse to submit” if a police officer apprehends them, putting the onus on women to protect themselves rather than suggesting ways of tackling the perpetrators.
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Of course it is a tory.
Should the fact that he is a Tory make us any more accepting of his evil? If his voters and employers do not sack him they are as bad or worse and sadly it seems the English are in freefall down a fascist rabbit hole.
I call it as I see it and anyone who acts as this man did is an inferior being trying to act like a superior one. That’s a classic definition of a fascist.
I also believe that a Prime Minister who can criticise the criminal justice system for delays after his party spent 10 years selling half our courts and making tens of thousands of police redundant is a fantasist and a liar. What do you think?
I will have you know that I, and every working member of my family pay tax and insurance . Where does this money go, if ,as you say we are entirely funded by Westminster. Why do you feel the need to insult the poster in your reply ?
Nobody resigns anymore unless they are put under pressure ‘to do the right thing’. Cabinet ministers don’t, MPs don’t, so why would anybody else?
What the Police & Crime Commissioner should have said is that children need to be taught about their rights at school, and about the techniques that the police use to undermine those rights. For instance: Why you should never volunteer information to a police officer unless your lawyer strongly recommends that you do so. (Because you’re not protected by mutual disclosure obligations until your case goes to court.) Why you should never be intimidated into talking by “It may harm your defence if you fail to mention when questioned…” — it’s an empty threat that’s designed to help the police… Read more »
It reads as though he is the Police Federation commissioner not that area’s Force Commissioner, so probably some glorified Police union rep. These guys at all levels have plenty to be guilty about and one of their default responses is deflection. It fits neatly with the ages old attitude – “well, she ought to have known better than to stay out late ” – which reduces law and order to a point where the crime don’t happen cos there’s no victims available ! Might change his mind if his own wife or daughter was ever a victim but that’s a… Read more »
The Police are no longer a “Force” by name. They have been a “Service” for some years.
He is the Police, Crime and Fire Commissioner for North Yorkshire and nothing to do with the Federation.
If that’s the case then even more reason for him to resign and reflect on how daft he is.
Da iawn Michael Sheen. Rhaid edmygu a chefnogi dy safiad, nid yn unig ar y pwnc yma ond gymaint arall rwyt wedi tynnu sylw ato ynglýn âg anghyfiawder. Cadw ati, mae dy lais yn bwysig a diolch amdanat.
You are angry with him because he is opposed to violence against women.
I don’t have a lot of time for Michael or other prominent people who comment on matters from time to time. However on this matter he is bang on the money so there is no scope for making any kind of criticism that’s relevant especially your ill founded thoughtless attack.
You just try being “streetwise” one day and telling a copper he cannot arrest you for what he proposing to arrest you. Go on, just try it and see what happens. But don’t try it if you have any doubts at all about the state of your heart, because if you have a murmur or other such condition being tasered can be fatal. If you survive the experience and manage to fight off the additional charges of resisting arrest and assaulting an officer, which will be stuck on whether or not you did anything at all, don’t bother to try… Read more »
Even when you have done nothing, the police will make up a false charge. Here is a police officer in Lancashire saying he will make up a story to arrest a man.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-arrest-make-something-lancashire-police-investigation-a9472416.html