It will probably never happen to you - but you can never be sure. How would you respond if stopped while walking home alone by someone claiming to be a police officer?
The natural response of many people would be to comply with the individual's directions, despite the initial shock.
You'd most probably assume there had been a simple mistake that could quickly be ironed out as long as you cooperate.
READ MORE: Discover more crime and policing stories on Leicestershire Live
Right-thinking members of the public tend to support the difficult job the police have in tackling crime and keeping us safe.
So we'd like to help if we can - especially if we have nothing to hide.
Unfortunately, however, there have been cases of criminals impersonating police officers in order to gain the confidence of would-be victims.
And you'd be particularly vulnerable if you were, say, a woman walking home from work or a night out - alone.
In the tragic case of Sarah Everard's murder, it was a serving officer who staged a fake arrest to kidnap her.
The 33-year-old marketing executive had been walking home from a friend's house in London on the night of March 3, this year, when she was duped into a car by Wayne Couzens - under the false pretence she'd breached Covid-19 regulations.
In response to Sarah's murder, and a subsequent crisis in confidence on the part of many women in the Metropolitan Police, it has introduced a new system for the conduct of its plain-clothed officers.
Under the new protocol, announced this week, they will have to video call a uniformed colleague to confirm their identity when stopping a lone woman.
It is a policy aimed at offering reassurance to the public after Sarah's killing, and Couzens' recent conviction and imprisonment for her rape and murder.
The new directions and advice for officers and the public in London, however, is unlikely to be adopted here in Leicestershire at the moment, it has emerged.
When LeicestershireLive approached Leicestershire Police to discuss the changes in the capital, we were told the force "would not comment on the policies of another police force".
It means that plain-clothed officers in the city and county will continue to follow the same protocol already in place when it comes to confronting lone women - or lone men for that matter - in the execution of their duties.
The advice to anyone approached by such a person remains the same as it was prior to Sarah Everard's killing.
So, what is it?
Well, a spokesperson for Leicestershire Police provided a one-line response to our inquiry.
They said: "Our current policy recommends people ask for a warrant card and, if in any doubt, to phone the police."
The force would not elaborate on the issue, discuss the matter or field any further questions aimed at offering reassurance to the public.
With fake police warrant cards available on the internet, it would suggest that the best course of action if alone and stopped by someone claiming to be a plain-clothed officer would be to immediately call the 101 number and ask for Leicestershire Police to verify the officer's credentials.
If you feel your safety is under threat you should call 999 straight away.
Dame Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, announced the new system in the capital to members of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee.
The force was heavily criticised after suggesting that women who were concerned they were not being stopped legitimately should try to flag down a passing bus or run to a nearby house.
When asked whether the advice had been reviewed, Dame Cressida told the committee: "I completely understand why that ended up as the headline.
"It was not intended, and it is not how we see things. Yes we have reviewed it and I think we would address the question differently were it to come again in the future.
"What I can say today is that we are launching our Safe Connection, as we call it, which allows a woman who is stopped by such a police officer immediately to have verification that this is a police officer.
"Because my plain-clothes officers will call into a control room, they will then have a video call with a sergeant in uniform who will say 'yes, that's so-and-so, he's PC XYZ'.
"So it's a quick and easy way which is instigated by the officer, not by the woman having to ask for this."
Need help?
Samaritans: 116 123. Website: www.samaritans.org . Email: jo@samaritans.org
Offer a 24-hour confidential helpline. You can also contact them by text or email.
NHS 111 Service: 111. Website: www.nhs.uk .
Call the NHS 111 service if you urgently require medical help or advice. The service is available 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust/Turning Point: 0808 800 3302. A Freephone helpline for people of any age in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for their own urgent mental health needs or for others with urgent needs they are concerned about.
Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393. Website: www.mind.org.uk . Email: info@mind.org.uk. Text: 86463
Information on a range of mental health problems and support. Lines are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).
HOPELineUK: 0800 068 41 41
A specialist telephone service staffed by trained professionals at PAPYRUS who give non-judgemental support, practical advice and information to children, teenagers, young adults aged up to 35 and anyone concerned about a young person. Opening hours are 10am to 10pm, Mondays to Fridays, 2pm to 5pm, weekends and bank holidays.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, (SoBS): 0300 111 5065. Helpline is open from 9am until 9pm Monday to Sunday.
NSPCC Childline: 0800 1111. Website: www.childline.org.uk
Children’s charity offering support and carrying out research into mental illness.
SANE: 0845 767 8000. Website: www.sane.org.uk . Email: sanemail@sane.org.uk
Out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers. Open every day from 6pm to 11pm.
CITIZEN’S ADVICE: Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848. Advicelink (Wales): 0800 702 2020. Debt helpline: 0800 240 4420. Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Professional help and advice on a range of problems, such as debt relief, benefits, housing and legal problems. Lines are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Wiltshire Police had already announced a similar scheme whereby officers will put their personal radio on loudspeaker and ask their control room to confirm their identity.
Dame Cressida stressed that the onus should be on the police officer to properly identify themselves, and that the bus advice given was "if all else fails" when someone may want to try to get help.
She said: “I want to be clear, the onus is on the officer."
Sarah Everard's killer received a life sentence last month after admitting to her kidnap, rape and murder.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently considering whether allegations about Couzens' previous conduct - including an accusation of indecent exposure in 2015 and again in the days before Sarah's murder - were properly investigated by Kent Police and the Met.
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2021-10-23 10:39:28Z
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