A landmark official report has delivered a scathing assessment of police progress on violence against women, revealing that a quarter of forces in England and Wales still have not implemented fundamental policies for investigating sexual offences.
Paralysis in Progress Despite Promises of Change
The report, authored by Dame Elish Angiolini, follows the public inquiry established after the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021. Everard was kidnapped from a London street while walking home.
Dame Elish condemned a state of "paralysis" that is blocking vital improvements, even as sexual crimes against women in public remain "widespread". Her findings indicate that despite sweeping pledges to enhance women's safety following the tragedy, tangible systemic change has stalled.
Key Failings and Unheeded Recommendations
The second part of Dame Elish's report, published on Tuesday, states that recommendations from her initial report over a year ago have yet to be acted upon. The failure to embed basic investigative standards for sexual offences across all forces is highlighted as a critical shortcoming.
In a powerful and poignant contribution to the report, Sarah Everard's mother, Susan, shared that she remains "tormented" by the horror of what her daughter endured. Her statement underscores the profound human cost of institutional failure.
A Call for Urgent Action
The report paints a clear picture of promises unfulfilled and a system struggling to reform itself from within. It serves as a stark reminder that, four years on from a crime that shocked the nation, foundational work to protect women and properly investigate crimes against them remains incomplete in many police jurisdictions.
The findings raise urgent questions about the pace and depth of cultural and operational change within policing, demanding accountability and immediate action to restore public trust and ensure women's safety.
