A police crime commissioner has issued a grovelling apology after he said women 'need to be streetwise' about being arrested in the wake of the Sarah Everard murder.
Phillip Allot, commissioner for North Yorkshire Police, said he now realised his comments were 'insensitive' and wanted to 'retract them in full'.
The Tory earlier said in a radio interview Ms Everard should never have 'submitted' to the arrest which led to her death on March 3 by former Met officer Wayne Couzens.
The comments, made during an interview on BBC Radio York, were branded 'horrifically offensive' by one campaigner.
North Yorkshire crime commissioner Philip Allot said Miss Everard 'never should have been arrested and submitted to that'
Mr Allot tweeted last night: '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.'
During the interview, BBC Radio York host Georgey Spanswick asked: 'How on earth do my stepdaughters, me, my friends, how do we protect ourselves now?'
Mr Allot said: '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.
'Perhaps women need to consider in terms of the legal process, to just learn a bit about that legal process.'
His comments were challenged by host Spanswick, who said: 'Why is it down to me Philip? Why is it down to women because actually, this is down to one man in the police force and there are serious doubts
