Sarah Everard: North Yorkshire PCC resigns after 'streetwise' comments caused national outcry

Watch: Sarah Everard murder: North Yorkshire police boss resigns after saying women need to be 'streetwise'

A policing chief who claimed Sarah Everard should not have submitted to arrest by her killer has been forced to quit after facing fresh claims of misogynistic and sexist behaviour towards his own staff.

Philip Allott announced his resignation as North Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner after he suffered a unanimous 11-0 vote of no confidence on Thursday from the force's policing panel of councillors.

The Conservative commissioner’s resignation came just hours after a letter emerged signed by the "overwhelming majority" of his 32-strong team of staff, which said they had no confidence in him and accused him of making "sexist and misogynistic comments" to female colleagues.

It followed his comments two weeks ago where he suggested women should be more "streetwise" about powers of arrest and that Ms Everard should not have "submitted" to arrest by her killer Wayne Couzens, a diplomatic protection officer.

They provoked a storm of protest with more than 1,000 complaints to his office. Tory chairman Oliver Dowden said he and Boris Johnson were "outraged" by the "completely unacceptable" comments, seen as being made worse as Ms Everard's family live in York.

However, even on Thursday morning Mr Allott remained defiant in attempting to hold onto his post despite the 11 members of his policing panel telling him that he should do the "honourable thing" and quit because of the "catastrophic lack of confidence".

He said he apologised "unreservedly" for comments that were "wrong, entirely misconceived and grossly insensitive", but he maintained: "I have to say that if everyone resigned who made a mistake, nothing would get done in this country."

However, within four hours, after being told by close advisers his position was untenable, he issued a statement that he was quitting the £74,000 a year role. "I misspoke and I am devastated at the effect that this has had on victims of crime and the groups that support them," he said.

He said he had hoped to "rebuild trust, to restore confidence", but admitted that following the panel vote, it was clear the task would be "exceptionally difficult, if it is possible at all".

"It would take a long time and a lot of resources of my office and the many groups who do excellent work supporting victims. This is time victims do not have. There are women and girls in York and North Yorkshire today suffering at the hands of men," he said.

"Victims and the groups who support them need to be heard. They cannot be heard if the airwaves are filled with discussion about my future. That is why I am doing the honourable thing and resigning."

The panel had no power to remove him or even sanction him - and could only appeal to him to quit. There are now likely to be calls for police and crime commissioners to be subject to a similar recall process as MPs where a petition signed by 10 per cent of the electorate can force them out.

The panel had received a letter from Mr Allott’s staff in which they said his comments needed to be "placed in the context of our growing concern about his behaviour towards colleagues".

They added: "You are already aware of sexist and misogynistic comments which have been made to female colleagues and the shock with which these have been witnessed by senior members of both services.

"You are also aware of his belittling behaviour towards both female and male colleagues, often in front of staff."

In a formal response to the letter sent to panel members, Mr Allott said: "I would like to state clearly that I refute the secondary allegations apart from one minor issue about my conduct beyond the central issue, which has caused the complaints to both my office and the panel."

An acting commissioner will be chosen from his staff until a by-election is held.

Philip Allott's resignation letter, in full

Over the past two weeks I have tried to rebuild trust and confidence in my work as York and North Yorkshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

I needed to do that following comments I made on an interview with Radio York regarding the horrific abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.

I need to be clear. I apologise unreservedly for my remarks. They do not reflect my views.

I misspoke and I am devastated at the effect that this has had on victims of crime and the groups that support them.

I have tried to say this again and again but I recognise that what I have said has not always been heard as I intended.

I had hoped I could rebuild trust, to restore confidence.

I was pleased that so many victims groups had accepted that I was genuinely sorry and were willing to work with me to help me in the mammoth task I had ahead.

Following this morning’s meeting of the Police and Crime Panel it seems clear to me that the task will be exceptionally difficult, if it is possible at all.

It would take a long time and a lot of resources of my office and the many groups who do excellent work supporting victims. This is time victims do not have.

There are women and girls in York and North Yorkshire today suffering at the hands of men.

Victims and the groups who support them need to be heard.

They cannot be heard if the airwaves are filled with discussion about my future.

That is why I am doing the honourable thing and resigning as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner – to restore confidence in the office which I believe will be almost impossible for me to do, and to enable victims' voices to be heard clearly without the distraction of the continued furore which surrounds me.

I entered public life because I wanted to make a difference. I still do. So, I am committing myself to doing all I can as a private individual to support victims groups.

The pledge I made as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner was genuine. It is one I will keep.

I would like to thank my office and especially my Chief Executive for his help and support, especially during the last two weeks which has been a challenging time for everyone at the OPFCC.

Whoever the new Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner will be I wish them every success in what is one of the most demanding but rewarding jobs in the UK.

Yours sincerely,

Philip Allott