HAMPSHIRE’S Police and Crime Commissioner has branded violence against women and girls ‘an epidemic’ after the sentencing of Sarah Everard’s killer.

Ex-police officer, Wayne Couzens was handed a whole life sentence at the Old Bailey on Thursday for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.

Speaking after the sentencing, Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has likened the situation of violence against women and girls in the UK to an “epidemic”, calling for more to be done to support victims.

This comes after Commissioner Jones launched the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Task Group just weeks ago to improve the response and support given to victims of violence.

The PCC, who is also national leader for Victims, said: “Our thoughts and prayers today are with Sarah’s family and friends. Their lives have been forever destroyed by the actions of one selfish, evil man.

“Unfortunately, Sarah is just one of the hundreds of women who are murdered by men each year in Britain. Violence Against Women and Girls is an epidemic.

“Thankfully policing’s response has improved in recent years, as has the culture within policing. What is needed now is a whole-system approach to tackling wider societal attitudes and behaviours.”

But this comes as Policing minister, Kit Malthouse, said the Sarah Everard case had struck a “devastating blow to the confidence that people have in police officers”, and he warned thousands of officers will need to do more so trust can be rebuilt.

Women have been advised by the Metropolitan Police to wave down a bus or shout out to passers-by if they are stopped by a police officer they do not trust.

Commissioner Jones added: “The particular circumstances around this case will regrettably have an impact on women’s trust and confidence in policing.

“We must all redouble our efforts to demonstrate a personal and collective commitment to protect communities, and particularly vulnerable women and girls.

“To ensure others play their part, we again stress that the Serious Violence Duty contained within the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill must be extended to require all agencies to act to tackle and prevent violence against women and girls.

“And we need the Government to bring forward a Victims’ Bill to ensure victims of crime and their families have their rights enshrined in law.”

Several measures have been announced in parliament since the killing as part of a “radical programme of change” including the creation of an online tool which allows people to anonymously pinpoint locations they felt vulnerable walking in and why.