AN ACTIVIST who claims “50 cops” have contacted her on Tinder since her arrest at Sarah Everard's vigil has hit out at vicious trolls targeting her.

Patsy Stevenson, 28, went viral after she was pictured being arrested by police at a vigil for Sarah Everard earlier this year.

She said the officers began to approach her on an online dating website after she was handcuffed at the vigil on Clapham Common, London, on March 13.

But Patsy has since been targeted by vile trolls branding her as liar and a “fame hungry wannabe” for sharing her story.

She explained that officers knew she was “fearful of the police” and had targeted her online “for a reason”.

They contacted her on Tinder, and she was able to see the images of the officers without swiping on them due to the Tinder Gold premium feature.

It allows users to see profile images of potential matches as well as their bio’s, who have swiped right on them, before they decide if they want to make contact.

Patsy said: "They were all in uniform on their profiles or it said 'I'm a police officer'. I do not understand why someone would do that.

"It is almost like an intimidation thing, saying 'look we can see you', and that, to me, is terrifying.

"They know what I went through and they know that I'm fearful of police and they've done that for a reason."

Now vile trolls have targeted her on social media, with one writing: “Give real victims a bad name, stupid glory hunter needs to realise how much harm she is causing.”

Another added: “I’ve never ever wanted to slap a woman so badly” while a third posted “lying cow fame hungry wannabe wants to destroy innocent officers for her own amusement”.

She recieved thousands more abusive comments online in the hours after her comments about the police were published.

Patsy has now hit out at the trolls, saying: “’Why didn’t you report it?’ Look at the thousands or comments now saying that they don’t believe me.

“This is why women don’t report anything. Start believing women.

“I want to take this chance to remind anyone standing up for me or women, you don't need to use insults, we don't need to use slurs or use peoples mental health against them. I appreciate it, but be kind.”

'TURNING POINT'

It comes as the Met Police reiterated that officers "must abide by high standards of professional behaviour" both "on and off duty".

Hundreds attended the vigil on Clapham Common in South London following the death of Ms Everard, who was murdered by Met officer Wayne Couzens after he abducted her while she was walking home.

The event had been cancelled after cops said it would be illegal under lockdown restrictions and tensions boiled over into arrests.

Patsy said the event was "a turning point", where "everyone realised we actually we all go through the same things".

She said the "sombre atmosphere… turned very scary very quickly" after police started trying to disperse the crowd.

Patsy was handcuffed and held down by two officers, and was also issued with a £200 fine – which she has challenged in legal action against the Met.

The Met said Patsy should "please contact us and provide us with more information so we can work to establish if any MPS officer is involved [and] whether any misconduct may have occurred."

We need answers as to why this was allowed to happen.

Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, who has rejected calls to resign, confirmed thatthere would be an independent review into the force's standards and culture.

Meanwhile Home Secretary Priti Patel said an inquiry into the "systematic failures" that allowed Couzens to continue to be a police officer would be held.

It comes as another Met officer from the same unit as killer Wayne Couzens allegedly raped a woman he met on Tinder.

PC David Carrick, 46, has been suspended from the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command and the court was told he "emphatically denies" attacking the woman after they shared drinks at two pubs in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

How you can get help

Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:

• Always keep your phone nearby.
• Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
• If you are in danger, call 999.
• Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, where you call 999 and press ‘55’ if you can’t safely speak.
• Always keep some money or a bank card on you, including change in case you need a pay phone or bus fare.
• If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to move towards an exit if you are inside the house and get your phone in case you need to call for help.
• Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other potential weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom.

Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available every day from 10am-6pm or email [email protected]

SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support ­service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].

You can also call the freephone 24-hour ­National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Source: Read Full Article