A major report into the rape and murder of Sarah Everard has delivered a damning verdict on the systemic failures to protect women and girls in the UK. The second part of the inquiry, led by Lady Elish Angiolini, found that despite violence against women and girls (VAWG) being declared a "national threat," the operational response is critically under-resourced and inconsistent.
Key Failures in Priority and Implementation
The inquiry uncovered a stark disparity in how crimes are treated. It concluded that sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces are not given the same priority response as other high-level offences. This gap exists even with the official designation of VAWG as a national threat for police forces.
Lady Angiolini identified a fundamental lack of action on past recommendations as a core problem. A key example is the failure to implement a policy that would bar individuals with convictions or cautions for sexual offences from joining the police. She stated bluntly that until such basic measures are in place, labelling VAWG a "national priority" lacks all credibility.
Systemic Gaps and Data Black Holes
The report paints a picture of an overstretched system where dangerous individuals are able to slip through the cracks. It highlighted the tragic case of Zara Aleena, who was killed by an offender recently released from prison, as evidence that critical warnings are being missed with "fatal consequences."
Compounding these operational failures is a severe lack of reliable information. The inquiry found a "critical failure" in data collection, describing statistics on sexually motivated crimes against women in public as "difficult to obtain, patchy and incomplete." This data deficit makes it nearly impossible to develop effective prevention strategies.
Public Fear and a Call for Urgent Action
Despite increased public discourse on women's safety, the inquiry chair noted that "many do not" feel safer. A supporting survey revealed the scale of this fear, with 76% of women aged 18 to 24 reporting they feel unsafe in public because of men's actions or behaviour.
Lady Angiolini stressed there is "not one silver bullet" to solve the crisis. Instead, she demanded a whole-society, long-term commitment involving education, swift justice, and a sharper focus on perpetrators. Issuing a powerful call to leaders, she urged them to "get a move on" immediately, warning that "There are lives at stake."
