Sabina Nessa: Sister urges politicians to 'step up' efforts to keep women safe

Tap above to watch video report by Natalia Jorquera

The sister of a teacher killed just minutes after leaving her London flat said political leaders needed to "step up" efforts to keep women safe.

Jebina Yasmin Islam said the death of Sabina Nessa still 'hurts inside' and called on politicians to take action.

"Boris [Johnson] needs to do something," Jebina told ITV News London.

"Sadiq Khan needs to implement something for us to feel safe to walk the streets alone.

"We should not be going home extra early just because we don't feel safe - we shouldn't.

"We are independent, we live in a country where we can walk alone - but we can't because of what's happening and what's happened to my sister.

"We need to make sure this does not happen again. Boris, Sadiq Khan - they need to step up," she added.

Sabina, 28, was walking to meet a friend at a pub near her home when she was attacked.

The journey should have taken just five minutes but she died in Cator Park in Kidbrooke.

Koci Selamaj, 36, appeared in court last month via videolink from HMP Wormwood Scrubs, charged with her murder.

Sabina's death shocked everyone in the community not least her family.

"You just don't feel like this would happen to you," Jebina said.

"Not enough words to explain how much it's hurting inside.

"Who would have thought it's five weeks on since she passed away, but feels like we just got the news yesterday," she added.

At the weekend Sabina's family organised a birthday memorial to remember a "beautiful and amazing" sister to celebrate what would have been her 29th birthday.

"We are four sisters not three - we will always be four sisters even though she's not here," Jebina said.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Our sincere condolences go to the family of Sabina Nessa for their devastating loss.

"Our priority is tackling violence against women and girls, which is why we are funding a new national policing lead for VAWG in recognition of the seriousness of these crimes, and why the Home Secretary will also chair a cross-government taskforce to drive action and improvements in this area. "We are also investing a further £25 million in the Safer Streets Fund for measures to ensure women and girls feel safe in public spaces, and have also introduced on online tool, StreetSafe, which will enable the public to anonymously report areas where they feel unsafe."

A spokesman for mayor of London Mr Khan said: “The mayor is devastated by the death of Sabina Nessa and strongly believes all women should have had every right to feel safe going about their lives.

“The heartbreaking murders we have seen in the capital must re-focus all of our minds on the unacceptable ways in which our society views and treats women.

“The mayor is clear that it’s not women who should have to change the way they live their lives, it’s men that need to change and that’s why we must root out these abhorrent behaviours.”