A YORK MP has welcomed the resignation of crime commissioner Philip Allott - but said he should have gone two weeks ago.

Mr Allott, North Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, sparked outrage after making comments about York woman Sarah Everard’s murder.

More than 1,000 complaints were made after he said women should be more “streetwise” about powers of arrest and that Ms Everard should not have “submitted” to arrest by her killer Wayne Couzens, a serving police officer.

Mr Allott decided to step down today (Thursday, October 14), hours after North Yorkshire Fire and Crime panel gave him a vote of no confidence.

Earlier he had told the panel he wouldn't be resigning, saying: "If everyone resigned who made a mistake in an interview, nothing would ever get done in the country. I genuinely think I can regain trust.”

York Central MP Rachael Maskell, welcoming his resignation, said: “It is right that Philip Allott resigned today, however he should have resigned two weeks ago after he made his abhorrent comments about women and how Sarah Everard should not have 'submitted' to her arrest by her murderer.

"I believe his statements were incredibly hurtful, and if anything has put women more at risk. Right now women and girls just don’t know who to trust.

"However, someone who holds such an important position should have had the insight to resign, and even this morning, following a no confidence vote in him, he said that he would not. With public service, comes responsibility, he failed at both.

“Now all attention must focus on how confidence and trust can be rebuilt in our police and public services.

"Engaging and listening to women and girls will be the first step to understanding the significant risks that we face on a daily basis, whether walking down the street or at home.

"We need to ensure that all agencies, including City of York Council, education and health services work closely with the police to improve women’s safety, and we need Government to ensure that there is a statutory inquiry into the safety of women and girls and they need to recognise the importance of engaging men and boys in the process.”

In his resignation statement. Mr Allott said: "I had hoped I could rebuild trust, to restore confidence.

“I was pleased that so many victims’ groups had accepted that I was genuinely sorry and were willing to work with me to help me in the mammoth task I had ahead.

“Following this morning’s meeting of the Police and Crime Panel it seems clear to me that the task will be exceptionally difficult, if it is possible at all.

“It would take a long time and a lot of resources of my office and the many groups who do excellent work supporting victims.

“This is time victims do not have.

“There are women and girls in York and North Yorkshire today suffering at the hands of men.

“Victims and the groups who support them need to be heard.

“They cannot be heard if the airwaves are filled with discussion about my future.

“That is why I am doing the honourable thing and resigning as Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner – to restore confidence in the office which I believe will be almost impossible for me to do, and to enable victims’ voices to be heard clearly without the distraction of the continued furore which surrounds me.”