IT is absolutely right that North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott has resigned after his unsupportable comments that Sarah Everard should have been more streetwise and should never have submitted to the rogue police officer who took her life.

He was effectively blaming Sarah for being murdered.

Perhaps Mr Allott unwittingly did us all a favour, because, if anyone had any doubts, in one radio interview he showed the enormity of the obstacles facing women and their relations with the police.

This man – the people’s elected voice on policing – said women should swat up on what offences are arrestable before they step outside in case they encounter an officer who wants to detain and then rape and murder them.

Although there were no procedures by which Mr Allott could be sacked, it is reassuring that the Police and Crime Panel of local politicians – including members of his own party – unanimously passed a no confidence vote on him, effectively forcing him to go.

But what happens now? Of course, the force has a big job rebuilding its reputation, but are the people of North Yorkshire – only 25 per cent of whom voted in the last commissioner election – going to be called to the expensive polling stations to choose Mr Allott’s successor? Many people think the PCC role is inappropriate because the police should not be politicised, and Mr Allott’s performance will only have reinforced that view.