WE MUST ACT NOW TO PROTECT WOMEN

OUR country was shocked to its core by the brutal abduction and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021. It is beyond belief that a serving police officer was responsible. Worse still, is knowing he should never have made it into the force in the first place.

I am very grateful to Lady Elish Angiolini and her team, who have conducted a professional and sensitive inquiry, meticulously scrutinising the circumstances that led to this horrific crime.

My heart goes out to Sarah’s loving family and to every brave victim who came forward to inform the inquiry.

Sarah Everard was failed in more ways than one by the people who were appointed to protect her. Her murder laid bare numerous failings in the police vetting processes and highlighted multiple instances of a culture of bigotry, misogyny and contempt within policing.

But long before this, women have lived in fear for their safety.

I have talked with my own family about this issue in depth – and my first elected role was in the London Assembly, where I contributed to the strategy for tackling violence against women and girls in 2008 and raising standards in policing.

It is shattering to hear of the actions women still take every day – without a second thought – to stay safe. Clutching keys for protection, or pretending to be on the phone while acutely aware of every nearby sound and shadow.

This is just not an acceptable reality. Progress has been and continues to be made. In the three years since Sarah’s murder, a root-and-branch clean-up of the police force has been under way, including the largest- ever integrity screening of all 307,452 serving officers, staff and volunteers.

We in government, alongside leaders in policing, have strengthened the way officers are vetted, scrutinised, managed, disciplined and we are making it easier for chiefs to kick out those who fall below the high standards the public deserve.

I am also bringing in new laws which will mean police officers charged with a serious criminal offence will be automatically suspended from service.

We made tackling violence against women and girls a national policing priority – demanding that forces treat it as seriously as they treat the threat of terrorism.

A national taskforce and a dedicated national policing role was created to help transform and coordinate the police response across the country. We cannot wait for sirens to be blaring before police act to protect women and girls.

I am utterly determined to make things better for women and girls. I will consider recommendations made by Lady Elish extremely carefully and our full response will be published promptly.