Key Takeaways:
- Sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces are not being given the same priority as other high-priority crimes.
- The inquiry into the rape and murder of Sarah Everard has found that there is a lack of data on these crimes and that prevention efforts are not effective.
- The report recommends a number of changes, including better collection and sharing of data, targeted messaging, and an information and intervention program for men and boys.
- The inquiry chair, Lady Elish Angiolini, has called for a "long-term commitment" to preventing these crimes and for leaders to "get a move on" in implementing changes.
- The report also highlights the need for a "radical overhaul" of police recruitment and for police culture to be examined in regards to misogynistic and predatory attitudes and behaviors.
Introduction to the Inquiry
The inquiry into the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by off-duty police officer Wayne Couzens has found that sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces are not being given the same priority as other high-priority crimes. The inquiry, led by Lady Elish Angiolini, a former solicitor general for Scotland, was launched after Ms. Everard’s death to investigate how Couzens was able to carry out his crimes and to look at wider issues within policing and women’s safety. The report’s findings are a stark reminder of the need for urgent change in the way these crimes are prevented and investigated.
The Inquiry’s Findings
The report found that despite violence against women and girls being described as a "national threat" in the 2023 strategic policing requirement, the response to these crimes lacks the same level of priority as other high-priority crimes. Lady Elish Angiolini stated that "prevention in this space remains just words" and that "until this disparity is addressed, violence against women and girls cannot credibly be called a ‘national priority’". The report also found that there is a lack of data on sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces, with Lady Elish calling it a "critical failure" that data on these offences is "difficult to obtain, patchy and incomplete".
The Need for Change
The inquiry’s findings highlight the need for a fundamental shift in the way these crimes are prevented and investigated. Lady Elish Angiolini has called for a "long-term commitment" to preventing these crimes and for leaders to "get a move on" in implementing changes. The report recommends a number of changes, including better collection and sharing of data, targeted messaging, and an information and intervention program for men and boys. The report also highlights the need for a "radical overhaul" of police recruitment and for police culture to be examined in regards to misogynistic and predatory attitudes and behaviors.
The Impact on Women
The report’s findings are a stark reminder of the impact that these crimes have on women and their families. Ms. Everard’s mother, Susan Everard, told the inquiry that "all the happy ordinary things of life have been stolen from Sarah and from us – there will be no wedding, no grandchildren, no family celebrations with everyone there. Sarah will always be missing and I will always long for her". The report also highlights the fact that many women do not feel safe in public spaces, with 76% of women aged 18-24 reporting feeling unsafe in public because of the actions or behavior of a man or men.
The Need for a Whole Society Response
The inquiry’s findings highlight the need for a whole society response to these crimes. Lady Elish Angiolini stated that "sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces are a whole society issue that requires a whole society response, involving government, police and other agencies working together to fix an ‘unacceptable’ and ‘deeply disappointing’ level of inconsistency in responses". The report recommends that government, police, and other agencies work together to prevent these crimes and to support victims and their families.
Conclusion
The inquiry’s findings are a stark reminder of the need for urgent change in the way these crimes are prevented and investigated. The report’s recommendations provide a roadmap for change, but it will require a long-term commitment from leaders and a fundamental shift in the way these crimes are prioritized. As Lady Elish Angiolini stated, "there is no better time to act than now" and "justice cannot only respond after harm – it must prevent harm". The report’s findings and recommendations must be taken seriously and implemented in order to prevent these crimes and to support victims and their families.
