This week’s column is a personal reflection from me about what has been an incredibly challenging week for policing and for wider society.

I joined Wiltshire Police as a teenager – following in my father’s footsteps into a career and vocation I felt, and still feel, hugely passionate about. My job has always been about protecting the public – as a police force we are here to keep people safe.

So the news last week that a Metropolitan police officer had been arrested and then charged with the murder of Sarah Everard came as a blow for me, and I know, police officers and staff up and down the country. My deepest thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Sarah’s family and friends at what will be the most unimaginable time for them.

This tragic and shocking case has prompted an outpouring of testimonies from women across the UK, who have been sharing their experiences of harassment, abuse and violence and the fact that so many of them do not feel safe while out and about. No-one should feel unsafe – at home or on the streets – but far too many do.

I cannot speak specifically about the Met investigation, and I would strongly urge against speculation on the circumstances of that case, as it is now active and nobody wants it jeopardised by prejudicial commentary.

However, I do want to try to provide reassurance. Firstly, I want to say that crimes such as this are incredibly rare, and that we do live in an overwhelmingly safe county. My police officers and staff are committed to protecting the public and work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice. But we should be careful to listen to and understand the very real experiences and fears that women do have, and on that note I would like to encourage everyone to report any incident to the police.

We will not tolerate harassment, violence or abuse against any person, and we want victims to feel confident that they will be listened to and that police action will be taken against anyone who breaks the law.

I also want to address the very difficult and topical issue of policing protests and gatherings during the current Covid-19 restrictions.

The pandemic, and the subsequent Government measures put in place to limit the spread of the virus, have really challenged the concept of policing by consent. New laws have been brought in and it is not our place to have a view on those laws or rules, but to try to work with our communities to keep the public safe at what is an unprecedented time as we face this global pandemic.

During “normal” times, we have a very clear duty to facilitate legal and peaceful protest, but the Covid-19 legislation has enforced a ban on large gatherings.

For all of the issues I have reflected on above, it highlights why engagement and communication with all of our communities is so very important, and the PCC and I will continue to have those difficult conversations with the public, working hard to build confidence in Wiltshire Police and the work we do.