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The College of Policing says a new national training programme is helping transform the way forces respond to non-contact sexual offences, following a series of high-profile cases that exposed long-standing failings in recognising their seriousness.
High-profile murders, including those of Libby Squire, Sarah Everard and Zara Aleena, highlighted how behaviours such as indecent exposure or voyeurism had too often been dismissed as “low-level” incidents. Evidence presented to the Angiolini Inquiry showed these offences can inflict deep, lasting harm on victims and frequently escalate into more dangerous offending.
In response to the inquiry’s recommendations, the College of Policing developed a comprehensive, evidence-based training package focused on victim impact, offender understanding and early intervention. The programme, launched in January 2025, aims to equip officers with the skills needed to recognise the gravity of non-contact sexual offences and prevent future harm.
According to the College, uptake has been substantial: more than 90,000 officers and staff in England and Wales—around one third of the policing workforce—have now completed the specialist training.
The College points to a recent Lancashire Constabulary case as early evidence that the new approach is driving real change. After a child witnessed a man exposing himself in a local park, detectives moved quickly to identify the suspect and secure a conviction. Officers involved in the investigation, including Detective Constable Paul Slinger and Detective Sergeant Katie Brew from the force’s serious and complex crime team, drew directly on the new training.
The enhanced understanding of victim vulnerability and offender behaviour helped shape a more robust investigative strategy, the College said, ensuring the case was treated as the serious sexual offence it was.
The Lancashire case exemplifies the shift the College hopes to embed across all forces: prioritising victims, recognising patterns of behaviour, and preventing further offending. Officials say the growing evidence of success demonstrates why the training is becoming a core component of policing practice.
They argue that as more officers complete the programme, forces will be better positioned to deliver justice for victims of non-contact sexual offences and strengthen public confidence in the broader response to violence against women and girls.
The College maintains that the initiative is already delivering meaningful, real-world impact—and represents a significant opportunity to raise policing standards nationwide by ensuring these offences are consistently investigated as the serious crimes they are.
The College has also released a video outlining the impact of the new training:
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