Summary
A report has found that over a quarter of police forces in England and Wales lack basic policies for investigating sexual offences. This comes after the murder of Sarah Everard, raising concerns over the handling of violence against women. The report calls for urgent action and better coordination to address these crimes.
Key Facts
- Over 25% of police forces in England and Wales lack basic policies for investigating sexual offences.
- The report follows the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.
- There is a call for urgent action to prevent further violence against women and girls.
- The inquiry highlights a gap in how police handle violence against women compared to other crimes.
- In 2023, the government outlined the need for police forces to coordinate their responses to such crimes.
- The report notes that without consistent data collection, offending patterns cannot be identified.
- New recommendations include a Good Samaritan law and better data collection on sexual crimes.
