Only a few days ago we were celebrating International Woman’s Day; not even a week later at the vigil for Sarah Everard at Clapham Common we see horrific scenes of violence.

These crimes against women and girls are committed by men and it’s because of men that women feel so unsafe on a daily basis.

It is not women who should have to change the way they live their lives, it is men who need to change.

It was so upsetting to watch those scenes of the police grabbing women across the ground like that. The police should have handled the situation better.

Enough is enough, there needs to be a change. Education is paramount, more work needs to be done to educate boys and men that this is unacceptable behaviour.

Candles and prayers for Sarah Everard, her family and friends and for all our sisters lost at the hands of violence. We have to ensure that our streets are safe to walk.

Cllr Bilqees Mauthoor

Leggatts councillor and Watford Labour women’s officer