THE POLICING minister said it would be ‘perfectly reasonable’ for anyone being approached by a lone police officer to call 999.

The advice comes after Wayne Couzens, a serving Met Police Officer at the time, as given a whole life sentence for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.

Speaking on Sky News this morning, Kit Malthouse gave advice on what individuals should do if approached by a lone police officer – adding that most do not patrol on their own.

He said: “If anybody has any doubts about that police officer, they should question the officer on what they're doing and if there are any doubts they should ask to speak to the control room on that officer's radio or call 999... that is the devastating consequence of this awful man's actions.

"I think it would be perfectly reasonable in similar circumstances for somebody to question the officer, seek reassurance, if that means asking them to identify themselves by speaking to the control room or calling in 999 if they feel in danger, then I'm afraid that's where we've got to."

Mr Malthouse said Everard’s murder had struck ‘devasting blow to confidence in the police, and in the Met Police in particular.’

He did, however, defend the Met Commissioner Cressida Dick amid rising calls for her to resign.

Couzens, 48, was handed a whole life sentence at the Old Bailey on Thursday by Lord Justice Fulford, who said his 'warped, selfish and brutal' offences had eroded confidence in the police.

The Metropolitan Police is now investigating whether Wayne Couzens committed more crimes before he kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard as the force vowed to make the streets safer for women and girls.