Policing needs to ‘grasp extent of cultural problems’ says inquiry report

The Home Office has published the findings of the Angiolini Inquiry that set out why Wayne Couzens was able to serve as a police officer for so long, highlighting the red flags and opportunities that were missed before the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021.

Lady Angiolini writes that during the course of her inquiry, her thoughts were never far from Sarah’s family and their determination ‘that Sarah’s tragic death at the hands of a serving police officer should bring about greater and earlier recognition of potential predators so as to help improve the safety of women in public spaces.’

“This case has left a stain on the reputation of the police service and damaged the social contract on which British policing is based, namely policing by consent.”

Former Home Secretary, Priti Patel appointed the Rt Hon Lady Elish Angiolini KC as Chair of the Angiolini Inquiry on 22 November 2021. two months after Couzens was sentenced to life imprisonment. Originally was asked to conclude part 1 of this Inquiry within nine months, the work took much longer to due to the ongoing criminal prosecutions.

The Part 1 Report draws on evidence from 144 witnesses who knew Couzens, those who worked with him, and experts who have been able to provide theories and evidence to inform its findings. The resulting 361 page report concludes that Couzens never should have been a police officer and includes 16 recommendations mostly focused around investigating indecent exposure, vetting and dealing with sexual behaviours.

“I hope that those in authority in every police force read this Report and feel galvanised to continue, and to accelerate, the work required to identify individuals who should not be part of any police force or in a position of public authority. This should help to secure the transformation of those organisations to ensure that no one feels comfortable expressing misogynistic, sexist or racist views while holding an office intended to protect those most vulnerable in society.”

The culture of banter in police forces is addressed in Recommendation 14. The Inquiry says that banter ‘often veils or excuses malign or toxic behaviour in police ranks,’ and should be rooted out, starting with each force committing immediately to be anti-sexist, anti-misogynistic, and anti-racist organisations.

“Policing needs to grasp fully the extent of the cultural problems it faces and the way that this affects the public it serves. It needs to do more than make further changes to policies, guidance and training, although these are important and worthwhile. All policing leaders need to rethink fundamentally how they lead their organisations to ensure that certain types of behaviour, from the unacceptable to the criminal, are never tolerated.”

Recommendation 16 is about the recruitment and retention of female police officers and says that by September 2023, the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council should review and examine the conditions of female officers and staff including a review of ‘kit, equipment and facilities designed largely by and for men.

“The report published today is an urgent call to action for all of us in policing. We must go further and faster, to earn back the trust of all those whose confidence in policing has been shaken by events of recent years.

“Regardless of our significant progress over the past year, the scale of the change that is needed inevitably means it will take time and it is not yet complete. The majority of my Met colleagues share my determination to reform by both confronting the risk posed by predatory men in policing, and also, improving our protection of women and children across London.”

Sir Mark Rowley, Met Commissioner responding to the Angiolini Inquiry report.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council is one of the organisations charged with implementing the changes set out in the reports recommendations. Responding to the publication of the report, NPCC Chair Gavin Stephens said that it is a ‘glowing red signal to all police leaders’ to ensure the recommendations are enacted and ‘changes made to policing for future generations.’

“We are taking action to ensure there is nowhere to hide in policing for wrongdoers, that our misconduct and vetting processes are reformed, and that our ethics and values are reset.  This report makes clear that we have much more to do to.

“We will not stop until the public, especially women and girls, get the police service they expect and deserve and their confidence in our role as protectors is rebuilt.” 

Gavin Stephens, Chair NPCC

The scope of Part 2 includes the recruitment and vetting of police officers, culture and standards in policing, and measures to help prevent sexually motivated violence against women in public spaces. The work for this part of the Inquiry is ongoing.

To read in full, see The Angiolini Inquiry Part 1 Report.