Refuge comment on Police Officers found guilty of misogynistic messages with Wayne Couzens

Ruth Davison, CEO of Refuge, said:

“This guilty verdict, while it will not undo the damage these men have done, at least shows that the criminal justice system is starting to understand the ways in which misogyny manifests.

That these police officers – the very people who should protect women and girls from harm – are sharing this content, in a group with the man who kidnapped and killed a young woman, should horrify every single current or serving police officer. I call on them to commit to challenge these behaviours wherever they see them.

It’s time for the force to stop hiding behind the ‘one bad apple’ narrative and make an unequivocal commitment to eradicate this behaviour right across policing. Women deserve better.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Interviews available on request.  Please contact the Press Office on 0207 395 7731 or email press@refuge.org.uk 

About Refuge

Refuge supports thousands of women and children on any given day, and runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which is the gateway to accessing specialist support across the country. More than one in four women in England and Wales experiences domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a current or former partner.

Please signpost to Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247, available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for free, confidential specialist support. Or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk to fill in a webform and request a safe time to be contacted or to access live chat (live chat available 3pm-10pm, Monday to Friday). For support with tech abuse visit refugetechsafety.org.