Poppy Murray, who founded the BE LADS campaign said her thoughts are with the potential victim who was coerced into withdrawing her rape complaint by Cusack.
“The Cusack case will, undoubtedly, have impacted the public’s ability to trust our local police,” said Miss Murray.
“Perverting the course of justice in any circumstance is a deplorable thing for an officer to do, but it is important to remember in this case that there is a potential rape victim who not only will not see justice, but who has been further let down by someone who was meant to protect them.”
Pictured: Poppy Murray has worked with Guernsey Police to improve public safety.
Miss Murray has worked with Guernsey Police closely since launching her BE LADS campaign in the wake of Sarah Everard’s murder in the UK. Miss Everard was killed by serving MET police officer, Wayne Couzens, in 2021.
Miss Murray has also been working with UK forces, including the MET, City of London and Gwent police, to support their efforts to rebuild public trust and confidence in the police. Earlier this month, she presented her campaign to around 100 officers at West Mercia Police.
She said the Cusack case was reflective of ongoing issues in policing across the UK.
“Cusack let down the individual, let down the public and let down the police. The relationship between the public and the police was already strained with countless high-profile cases in the UK of officers abusing their positions, and with the Casey review earlier this year which labelled the MET as misogynistic, racist and homophobic. This case in Guernsey will have made the challenge of rebuilding public trust and confidence even more difficult,” she said.
“My BE LADS campaign is centred around the fact that not all men are threats to women, but that all women have a story of feeling, or being, unsafe. It is important to remember now that not all police officers abuse their positions, but that officers like Aaron Cusack, David Carrick [MET] and Wayne Couzens [MET] have each validated fears held by the public over trusting the police.”
Pictured: Poppy Murray (in pink) has spoken with numerous police forces about her BE LADS campaign.
Miss Murray said the lack of trust in police forces across the country comes after a series of damaging cases involving numerous officers.
“I am yet to work with a police force that does not have a problem,” she said. “West Mercia Police had the recent case of Michael Darbyshire, who was found guilty of rape and five sexual assaults in May. The offences took place while he was a serving police officer.
“Darbyshire is not just a West Mercia Police issue, Couzens is not just a MET Police issue and Cusack is not just a Guernsey Police issue. They are each cases which reflect the very urgent need to change policing culture, which has allowed for the wrong people to be in the right place to commit these offences.
“Culture can be changed. When the covid pandemic hit, we all changed how we worked, socialised and lived overnight; that was due to the changes in law. When restrictions were lifted, many people initially felt uncomfortable standing close to others, or meeting in large groups; this was due to a change in culture. Pre-pandemic it would be unusual to see someone in a shop wearing a mask, but now most people wouldn’t look twice at this sight. It only took a few months for these new behaviours to become an accepted part of our culture.”
Miss Murray said she was hopeful that Guernsey Police would respond appropriately to this incident.
The Chief Officer of Bailiwick Law Enforcement, Ruairi Hardy issued a statement immediately after Cusack’s conviction, and he confirmed Cusack had been sacked at the outset of the investigation against him. Miss Murray would like to see further evidence of a change in culture too.
“I think the public apology from Chief Officer Hardy after Cusack’s verdict was a good indication that Guernsey Police will be taking the right steps to rebuild trust and confidence. Deputy Chief Officer Scholes has been extremely supportive of my campaign, including attending a HeForShe Police Ally event in April where I presented BE LADS to over 70 senior officers from across the UK.
“I continue to speak with forces and officers, with the National Police Chief Council, and with the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners and I hear the same thing every time: police culture has to change. I believe that most police officers are good people who are dedicated to helping others, and I hope that changes within policing culture will expose any officers who should not be in law enforcement and will see them removed.”
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