A recent report has highlighted a lack of effective measures to combat violence against women and girls, despite being identified as a national priority. Lady Elish Angiolini, leading an inquiry initiated after the tragic death of Sarah Everard, expressed concern over the inconsistent approaches taken by different police forces. She emphasized the failure to properly record crimes, leading to many offenders slipping through the cracks.
During the inquiry, Sarah’s mother, Susan, shared her heart-wrenching sentiments, expressing her ongoing struggle with the loss of her daughter. The family is hopeful that the report’s findings will bring about significant changes in addressing the issue. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the current state where women feel unsafe and pledged to carefully review the 13 new recommendations put forth by the inquiry.
The report revealed that over a quarter of police forces in England and Wales lack essential policies for handling sexual offenses. Lady Elish stressed the need to address this disparity to truly prioritize the fight against violence towards women and girls. She criticized the lack of concrete actions taken by the government to implement recommendations made nearly two years ago.
In response to the report, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips labeled the situation as a national emergency, emphasizing the urgency to make women feel safe. Lady Elish’s report also highlighted concerning gaps in data regarding offenses and perpetrators, hindering effective solutions to the problem. She emphasized the need for a shift towards preventing perpetrators from re-offending and disrupting their actions.
The inquiry, initiated following the tragic murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, has shed light on systemic failures within policing practices. The report underscores the importance of focusing on prevention and stopping perpetrators from harming women. The Home Secretary reiterated the government’s commitment to combatting violence against women and girls, acknowledging the need for substantial changes to ensure safety and justice for all.