Angiolini Inquiry

At the earliest opportunity, and by September 2024 at the latest, police forces should ensure that they have a specialist policy on investigating all sexual offences, including so-called 'non-contact' offences, such as indecent exposure.

The Angiolini Inquiry asked police forces to adopt specialist policies on investigating sexual offences. In an October 2026 update, the Cabinet Office reported that the College of Policing had produced a framework to support forces in developing combined or standalone policies (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In December 2025, the inquiry found that 26 per cent of police forces had not yet implemented a specialist policy on investigating sexual offences, including non-contact offences, as of September 2025 (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

By December 2024, the College of Policing, in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs' Council, should improve guidance and training on indecent exposure, in order to improve the quality of investigations and management of indecent exposure cases. In particular, the College of Policing should: a. review and update training, informed by crime statistics and research into the nature of indecent exposure and its impact on victims; b. review and update the guidance for police officers to improve the handling of indecent exposure cases; c. include guidance on appropriate resourcing for investigations; and d. ensure that guidance and training reflect the Sentencing Council guidelines, which recognise factors indicating increased harm and culpability. This activity should be informed by the results of Recommendation 4 below.

The Inquiry recommended improved guidance and training for police on indecent exposure. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the College of Policing published a new e-learning module and supporting guidance on indecent exposure and other non-contact sexual offences in January 2025, but the update did not mention resourcing guidance or Sentencing Council guidelines (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In December 2025, the Inquiry found that while guidance had been produced, not all officers had completed the training, calculating that approximately 45 per cent of headcount in England and Wales had done so (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

With immediate effect, the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, College of Policing and National Police Chiefs' Council should work together to conduct a fundamental review of the way masturbatory indecent exposure is treated within the criminal justice system. The review should focus on: recognising the seriousness of the offence; identifying it as an indicator of disinhibition by perpetrators; and understanding and addressing the wider issue of sexual precursor conduct so as to prevent victimisation, improve the response to victims when it occurs and bring more offenders to justice.

The Inquiry asked the Home Office to review criminal justice responses to masturbatory indecent exposure. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the government had completed a review of police responses to non-contact sexual offences, including masturbatory indecent exposure, but did not mention the wider criminal justice system, adding that an update would be provided in due course (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In December 2025, the inquiry found that draft findings from Home Office engagement with 13 police forces had been shared with it in September 2025 and were being reviewed by ministers (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025). In December 2024, Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, stated that research focused first on policing before examining other criminal justice agencies (Jess Phillips MP, Dec 2024).

With immediate effect, the Home Office, in collaboration with the College of Policing, should commission research to establish if there is an evidence-based link between active masturbatory indecent exposure and subsequent contact offending. Where relevant, findings should then be used to shape policy, training and guidance for police officers investigating indecent exposure cases (as per Recommendation 2).

The Inquiry asked the Home Office to study links between indecent exposure and contact offending. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the Government has undertaken research into offending patterns of individuals suspected of non-contact sexual offences, with an update to follow in due course, though police policy, training, and guidance were not mentioned (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). Earlier, the Inquiry found in December 2025 that the department was gathering information from police forces on convicted and suspected sexual offenders, aiming to finish analysis by the end of 2025 (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025). In December 2024, Jess Phillips MP, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, stated that the department was expanding the research scope to explore offending patterns linked with sexual offending (Jess Phillips MP, Dec 2024).

By March 2025, the Home Office, together with the National Police Chiefs' Council, should launch a public campaign to: a. raise awareness about the illegality/criminality and legal consequences of any type of indecent exposure and boost the confidence of victims to report cases of indecent exposure to ensure that more offenders are brought to justice; and b. increase publicity around the relevant legislation in order to encourage reporting of unsolicited photographs sent of genitals with the intention to cause harm, distress or humiliation and to discourage perpetrators from doing so.

The Inquiry recommended that the Home Office launch a public campaign tackling indecent exposure criminality. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the government had worked with policing to highlight the seriousness of exposure and used the ENOUGH campaign to increase awareness of abusive behaviours including cyberflashing (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In December 2025, the Angiolini Inquiry found that the National Police Chiefs' Council had issued an awareness campaign toolkit in July 2025, and reported department advice that a national communications campaign would launch by early 2026 (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025; Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025). Earlier, James Cleverly confirmed the department's acceptance of the recommendation in a March 2024 written statement to the House of Commons (James Cleverly response, Mar 2024).

By September 2024, the National Police Chiefs' Council, in collaboration with all force vetting units, and building on the results of the recent data-washing exercise, should conduct a review of the circumstances of all allegations of indecent exposure and other sexual offences recorded on the Police National Database and the Police National Computer against serving officers. This is to identify, investigate and ultimately remove those officers found to have committed sexual offences from all police forces.

The Inquiry recommended reviewing all sexual offence allegations recorded against serving police officers. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the recommendation had been closed, describing the April 2026 creation of a National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Vetting Hub and work on a Continuous Integrity Screening tool to remove offending officers (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In December 2025, the Angiolini Inquiry found that an earlier historic data wash identified 461 individuals who were referred to an appropriate authority (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025). Both bodies noted that introducing the continuous screening tool remains subject to funding (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025; Cabinet Office, Oct 2026).

With immediate effect, the College of Policing, in collaboration with force recruitment, should ensure that every new candidate applying to become a police officer in any police force undergoes an in-person interview and home visit. This should be designed to provide a holistic picture of the candidate and a better understanding of the candidate's motivations for joining the police and their dedication to serving the public. In particular, this should include the following: a. An in-person interview with the candidate to ensure that face-to-face contact is made with the recruiting force before the vetting or onboarding of the candidate is progressed. b. A visit to the residence of all new candidates. This should be used as another opportunity, in advance of vetting enquiries, to engage with the candidate, relevant family members or other occupants of the residence, wherever possible. c. An integrity questionnaire, used as part of the in-person home visit, to explore fully the candidate's personal attitudes and values, including increased scrutiny of the candidate's motivations and suitability for joining the police. d. Corresponding guidance and training for home visits must be developed to ensure that the visits will enable a better sense of the candidate's character, rather than judge living arrangements or socio-economic status.

The recommendation calls for mandatory in-person interviews and home visits for all prospective police recruits. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that forces are carrying out in-person interviews, the College of Policing continues to develop a values-based question set, and findings from home visit pilots are being analysed (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In December 2025, the Angiolini Inquiry found that four volunteer forces had piloted home visits, but stated that disagreement remained over national implementation and the way forward was unclear (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

By June 2024, the College of Policing, in collaboration with force vetting units, should take further steps to prevent those unsuitable for policing from joining the policing profession. This should include further developing the Vetting Code of Practice, Authorised Professional Practice on Vetting, and other guidance on recruitment and vetting practices in order to prevent those who commit sexually motivated crimes against women and those otherwise unsuitable for policing from holding the office of constable. In particular, recruitment and vetting policy, processes and practices must be developed in the following areas: a. Applicants should be required to undergo an assessment of their psychological suitability for the role (which is not just a questionnaire). b. There should be more robust use of the Police National Database during vetting, including as a tool to reveal unreported adverse information about applicants to ensure that potential risks are not missed. In particular, the Database should be used when individuals attempt to move between forces. c. Any individual identified as having a conviction or caution for a sexual offence should be rejected during police vetting. This should be clearly outlined in the Vetting Code of Practice and reflected in the Authorised Professional Practice on Vetting, which should consider all contact and non-contact sexual offences. d. The Authorised Professional Practice on Vetting should be amended to make it clear that military and/or Ministry of Defence checks should be carried out on all applicants who have served as military reservists. e. There should be a fundamental review of the link between debt, mental health, vulnerability to corruption and suitability to be a police officer, to inform vetting decisions. Detailed consideration should be given to the amount of unsecured personal debt held by officers, and rules should be amended to mandate officers to report any significant changes in debt to vetting teams. In addition, the rules should require applicants and officers to provide further insight into their finances, including any payday loans, when requested during the vetting process. f. There should be increased rigour in relation to checks for authorised firearms officers, to ensure that vetting standards are met, as well as the introduction of a psychological assessment and an appropriate process for seeking feedback from supervisors or line managers to determine suitability for the role. g. No police officer should be onboarded, even if only for initial training, before all vetting is complete. In addition, each officer's force vetting should be completed before their National Security Vetting is initiated. All force vetting information should be passed to National Security Vetting officers for consideration.

The Inquiry asked the College of Policing to strengthen police recruitment and vetting practices. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that guidance had been updated regarding sexual offences, military reservists, personal debt, and the Police National Database, while work remained ongoing on psychological assessments, armed officer vetting, and information sharing agreements with UK Security Vetting (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). Earlier, in December 2025, the Angiolini Inquiry found that the recommendation's complexity had delayed progress, with four elements outstanding towards a completion date in 2026 (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

By March 2025, the College of Policing, in collaboration with force vetting units, should take steps to improve the quality and consistency of police vetting decision-making. This should include encouraging the use of greater professional rigour and curiosity when investigating lines of enquiry, in order to prevent those who commit sexually motivated crimes against women and those otherwise unsuitable for policing from joining the policing profession. These steps should include the following: a. Recruiting forces should be able to request that unresolved allegations discovered during vetting processes be reinvestigated. b. In collaboration with the National Police Chiefs' Council, a national vetting capability should be created, as an advisory function, to provide another layer of confidence in instances where complex vetting investigations and decisions are required. In such cases, forces should approach the national vetting function to seek proposed lines of enquiry and ensure that they are following an agreed, standardised approach when considering complex cases. c. Consideration should be given during vetting to any information or intelligence about police officers being reported missing, regardless of how quickly such reports were closed. d. Forces must ensure that force vetting units are complying with and practising Section 6.2 of the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice on Vetting (2021), which states that force vetting units must record the results of vetting enquiries; the rationale for refusing, suspending, withdrawing or granting clearance, including with restrictions; and where adverse information has been revealed and considered. This is to ensure that an audit trail is recorded to give the force confidence in decisions made at the time and to allow future vetting officers to constructively scrutinise vetting enquiries and outcomes.

The Inquiry asked the College of Policing to improve police vetting decision-making quality and consistency. In an October 2026 update, the Cabinet Office reported that the recommendation was addressed through revised Authorised Professional Practice on Vetting, published guidance on missing officers, and a National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Vetting Hub established in April 2026 (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). Earlier, the Angiolini Inquiry found in December 2025 that the recommendation was partially implemented, noting that an advisory national vetting capability had not yet been created (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

With immediate effect, all recruiting forces should have regard to the new Vetting Code of Practice, which requires the parent force to provide all relevant information requested about the transferee to enable an effective assessment of risk by the force conducting a full re-vet of the transferee.

The Inquiry asked recruiting forces to follow the Vetting Code of Practice for transfers. In an October 2026 update on the recommendations dashboard, the Cabinet Office stated that this recommendation has been addressed through the Authorised Professional Practice on Vetting (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In a December 2025 report, The Angiolini Inquiry recorded that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) confirmed the recommendation has been implemented in full (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

By December 2024, the College of Policing, in collaboration with force vetting and recruitment units, should ensure that information-sharing practices, including data retention policies, are strengthened in order to prevent those who commit sexually motivated crimes against women and those otherwise unsuitable for policing from remaining in, or moving across, the policing profession. In particular, there should be a focus on the following information: a. Previous failures to achieve vetting should be recorded by all forces and flagged to recruiting forces. This should also trigger a re-vet with the current or recruiting force. b. A shared agreement should be made about the quality, relevant and necessary content, and sources of information that will be provided in a reference for a future force, also known as a 'shared referencing protocol', with directed questions that must be answered (for example, regarding any past disciplinary or honesty/integrity issues). Information to be shared as part of the protocol should be covered within the relevant forces' fair processing notices. The protocol should apply to all transfers and applications to police forces from individuals in the uniformed services, including: the Ministry of Defence (including the Army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, as well as their respective reserve forces); fire and rescue services; HM Prison and Probation Service; other police forces; and relevant government agencies, such as Border Force or Immigration Enforcement. This is to improve forces' access to – and ability to use – the totality of information they hold about officers in order to prevent, detect and deal with those likely to commit offences. c. As per Recommendation 8(b), there should be expanded access to and use of the Police National Database, including as a tool for revealing relevant uninvestigated adverse information about officers. d. Any adverse information or intelligence (developed or otherwise) should be passed by the current Professional Standards Directorate to the receiving Professional Standards Directorate for any officers transferring. No decisions on their appointment should be made until that intelligence has been reviewed, recorded and closed and the vetting units have had time to consider it. If the recruiting force identifies adverse information as a result of the vetting process, this should be shared with the current force for consideration and potential action.

The Inquiry asked the College of Policing to strengthen police information-sharing and vetting practices. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that intelligence-sharing between professional standards directorates had been addressed through the Authorised Professional Practice on Vetting, while force migration to the CoreVet platform was continuing, a national shared referencing protocol was targeted for early 2027, and continuous integrity screening remained subject to funding (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). Previously, in December 2025, the Angiolini Inquiry found that progress on three of the four sub-recommendations depended on external organisations or IT systems, risking delays of up to two years (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

With immediate effect, police forces should convey to all existing and prospective officers and staff that they must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. These circumstances include, but are not limited to: recruitment, vetting, aftercare, transfer, promotion, role change, returning to policing and maintaining standards. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold. Updated fair processing notices concerning changes to processing of personal data should be provided prior to any new processing taking place, including data-sharing.

The Angiolini Inquiry recommended notifying police personnel that their privacy rights can be fettered. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that a new Code of Ethics establishes these higher standards and that Authorised Professional Practice on Vetting clarifies impingements on privacy rights, though updated fair processing notices were not mentioned (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In December 2025, the inquiry found that the measure had been reported complete following the publication of the code, with the College of Policing continuing to work with forces to embed it (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

By December 2024, the College of Policing, in collaboration with all force vetting units, should develop a stronger approach to force vetting aftercare in order to monitor an individual effectively throughout their career with the police and be aware of any change in circumstances as soon as possible to ensure that potential risks/red flags are identified and assessed. In particular, that approach should include the following: a. Mandatory, randomised re-vetting should be introduced, as an additional layer to standardised vetting periods, for police officers and staff, akin to randomised drug-testing. b. In addition to police officers and staff being required to declare any material changes in their circumstances within a managed system, such as a human resources system, supervisors, or anyone with concerns relating to behaviour, welfare or performance, should report them to Professional Standards Departments at any point. c. Professional Standards Departments should systematically exchange relevant and necessary information with vetting and counter-corruption units to consider information disclosed by any individual, and any action necessary.

The Inquiry called for randomised police re-vetting and stronger vetting aftercare to monitor officers. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the recommendation had been addressed in the Authorised Professional Practice on Vetting, with the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) maintaining focus on randomised re-vetting through wider reforms and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspecting whether forces undertake it (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). Previously, in December 2025, the Angiolini Inquiry found that although the NPCC stated the recommendation had been delivered in full, mandatory randomised re-vetting had not yet been introduced (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

With immediate effect, every police force should commit publicly to being an anti-sexist, anti-misogynistic, anti-racist organisation in order to address, understand and eradicate sexism, racism and misogyny, contributing to a wider positive culture to remove all forms of discrimination from the profession. This includes properly addressing – and taking steps to root out – so-called 'banter' that often veils or excuses malign or toxic behaviour in police ranks.

The Inquiry recommended that every police force publicly commit to being anti-sexist, anti-misogynistic, and anti-racist. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) committed to being anti-discriminatory in February 2025, and that the vast majority of forces had completed commitments to being anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-misogynistic or anti-discriminatory (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). Earlier, in December 2025, the Angiolini Inquiry found that the national anti-discriminatory commitment had not been made or implemented by every police force in England and Wales (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

With immediate effect, all police forces should take action to understand and confront the barriers that police officers and staff face when reporting sexual offences committed by a person that they work with or in the workplace. This is in order to encourage victims, who are also police officers or police staff, to come forward and submit complaints, as well as to identify and remove those who are not fit for service. To do this, forces should: a. ensure, when a complaint is made, that sufficient and appropriate resources are dedicated to supporting the complainant, including maintaining anonymity where needed or requested, and ensuring an investigation is carried out as appropriate; b. address cultural barriers to reporting, such as re-victimising complainants by labelling or treating them as 'troublemakers'; and c. provide dedicated reporting processes for women in police forces who experience inappropriate behaviour related to their gender.

The recommendation calls for police forces to remove barriers to reporting sexual offences by colleagues. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that national work continues to strengthen reporting, investigation, and victim support, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) is developing a National Culture Guide, and forces are adopting broader reporting models (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). In December 2025, the Angiolini Inquiry found that progress had not been made as planned due to disagreements among forces, though the council introduced an assurance lead to evaluate progress alongside a joint culture strategy (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

By September 2024, the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs' Council should review and examine the conditions of female officers and staff in order to encourage more women to join the police and progress in policing careers. To ensure success, this should include a review of: a. working conditions that do not address the realities of modern working lives, including families where both parents are officers and share caring responsibilities; b. processes, training and refreshers for officers returning from parental leave; and c. kit, equipment and facilities designed largely by and for men.

The Inquiry asked the College of Policing to review conditions for female personnel. In October 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Gender Portfolio continues work addressing female working conditions and uniform decisions, though parental leave processes are not mentioned (Cabinet Office, Oct 2026). Earlier, in December 2025, the Angiolini Inquiry found varying progress and disagreements across forces, noting that commitment to workplace equity for women still needed improvement (Rt Hon. Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Dec 2025).

Immediately, the Home Office should lead work, coordinated by the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, to significantly increase both the collection and use of data on sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces, in order to establish an informed understanding of these crimes and assist in building effective preventative measures. This work should: a. Add requirements for police forces to consistently record and provide data on: (i) the nature of the relationship between the perpetrator and victim (i.e. whether they are strangers, or known to each other); and (ii) a description of the location of the offence(s) (by way of defined categories of public spaces or private premises), as part of their annual data returns. Consideration should be given to how this data can usefully inform the work of the Safer Streets mission to improve and better target prevention activity. b. Review the capability and capacity of police analysts, working to increase the recruitment, retention and recognition of the central role these professionals play in helping to prevent sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. c. Establish annual information collection, using existing surveys, to understand women's perceptions of safety and their experiences and the public's perception of sexually motivated crimes in public settings. Consideration should be given to how this data can usefully inform the work of the Safer Streets mission to improve and better target prevention activity. d. Set clear guidelines that, where data is gathered by policing from female victims of sexually motivated crimes in public spaces, they should be offered the opportunity to share information regarding protected characteristics. This is to ensure that, where possible, an accurate picture of victimisation is provided, and the correct support is available. Guidelines should cover details of how to conduct this data collection in a way that is sensitive to the needs of victims.

In a June 2026 written parliamentary answer, Natalie Fleet, answering for the Home Office, stated that the government is absolutely committed to ensuring that women and girls feel safe going about their everyday lives (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The Minister confirmed that the department was "carefully considering the Inquiry’s Part 2 First Report’s recommendations and will respond as soon as possible" (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

By November 2026, the Government should explore how to improve the impact that the safety advice provided by police Designing Out Crime Officers could have on the prevention of sexually motivated crimes in public spaces, including by amendments to policies and changing their status within relevant planning legislation.

In a written parliamentary answer to Bell Ribeiro-Addy in June 2026, Natalie Fleet stated on behalf of the Home Office that the government was "carefully considering the Inquiry’s Part 2 First Report’s recommendations and will respond as soon as possible" (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the department's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

By March 2026, the Home Office, as the lead department for the response to violence against women and girls, should agree funding for a multi-year series of public information campaigns centred around the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. These campaigns should be managed and funded centrally by the UK Government, but rolled out regionally and locally in a sustainable and consistent way. They should all have the same central purpose and messaging, and include evaluation metrics based on behaviour and attitudinal change, as well as communications reach and engagement. This recommendation should not be seen to supersede any progress made against Recommendation 5 from the Part 1 Report (the Home Office should launch a public information campaign on indecent exposure). Instead, any activity to implement Recommendation 5 from the Part 1 Report should seek to incorporate any relevant learning from this, subsequent, recommendation as part of the response (despite the passage of time and nine-month delay in implementation; see Chapter 1 on the implementation of recommendations from the Part 1 Report for further details on this).

In June 2026, Natalie Fleet, answering for the Home Office, stated in a written answer that the government was carefully considering the inquiry's recommendations and would "respond as soon as possible" (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). Previously, in a December 2025 action plan, the department set out plans to introduce sustained, multi-year public messaging on preventing harms against women and girls in both private and public spaces (Home Office, Dec 2025). The record holds no update since the department's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

The public has a pivotal role to play in the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. In recognition of that: a. By April 2026, the Home Office, as the lead department for the response to violence against women and girls, should agree funding for (and later implement) a multi-year series of active bystander public information campaigns centred around the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. Campaigns should be launched by no later than December 2026. These should be managed and funded centrally by the UK Government, but rolled out regionally and locally in a sustainable and consistent way. They should all have the same central purpose and messaging, and include evaluation metrics based on behaviour and attitudinal change, as well as communications reach and engagement. b. By July 2026, the Home Office should agree which agencies should have ownership of the coordination standards and messaging around active bystander training. c. By July 2026, the Government should consider the arguments for the introduction of a wider Good Samaritan law, as is being championed by Farah Naz, Zara Aleena's aunt and campaigner; and in particular consider the potential impact that introducing such a law could have on the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces.

In June 2026, Natalie Fleet, answering for the Home Office, stated that the Government was "carefully considering" the inquiry's recommendations and would respond as soon as possible (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). She noted in June 2026 that the Government remained committed to ensuring women and girls feel safe going about their everyday lives (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the department's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

By April 2026, the Home Office, the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, and the National Police Chiefs' Council should roll out Project Vigilant nationally and consistently across all forces in England and Wales. This should be introduced primarily across nighttime economy spaces but should then be expanded to other suitable environments in which Project Vigilant could help prevent and interrupt perpetrators of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. In addition, Police and Crime Commissioners should specifically liaise with Chief Constables on the implementation of Project Vigilant in their areas, to understand its impact on the delivery of the force's Police and Crime Plan, and its contribution to national policing capabilities aimed at tackling violence against women and girls.

Answering for the Home Office in June 2026, Natalie Fleet stated that the government was committed to ensuring women and girls feel safe, was carefully considering the recommendations of the Part 2 First Report, and would "respond as soon as possible" (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the Home Office's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

By September 2026, the Home Office (as the lead department for the response to violence against women and girls), working closely with the Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice, and the Department of Health and Social Care, should increase and improve the information, support and programmes available to men and boys that create a culture of positive masculinity, to help prevent them from committing sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. This work should include: a. implementing the recommendation from Creating a Safer World - The Challenge of Regulating Online Pornography (the 2025 Independent Pornography Review conducted by Baroness Bertin) that "resources and funding should be focused on school and community programmes specifically for boys and young men in order to encourage healthy discussions about positive masculinity and relationships, and to counter misogynistic culture"; b. creating a comprehensive and easy-to-access online space that provides support to intervene and prevent sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces by providing information directly to perpetrators and their families; this could take a similar form to information available on the Enough website aimed at domestic abuse perpetrators, and should be designed in collaboration with specialist organisations who support perpetrators; c. increasing the availability of early interventions - available via GPs, self-referral, social workers - for individuals who have not yet committed a sexual offence but have concerns about their thoughts or behaviours, as well as the availability of interventions via probation officers where the individual is already within the criminal justice system; and d. reviewing the availability, use and effectiveness of behaviour change programmes for these men and boys (whether self-referred, GP-referred or provided as part of a condition on a criminal justice order), with actions to increase the availability of these programmes as necessary.

Answering for the Home Office in June 2026, Natalie Fleet stated that the government was absolutely committed to ensuring women and girls feel safe going about their everyday lives, was "carefully considering the Inquiry’s Part 2 First Report’s recommendations", and would respond as soon as possible (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the Home Office's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

Immediately, Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners should ensure that the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces is an essential part of: (i) their violence against women and girls plans; and (ii) the Police and Crime Plans. This should include: a. circulating consistent and sustained leadership communications across the force, with Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners making very clear the priority placed on these offences; b. senior officers reviewing and taking appropriate action on metrics around these crimes, as part of standard and regular force performance management; c. formal reviews by the senior officer team in every force to ensure that all relevant force functional areas have clear roles and responsibilities regarding the prevention of these crimes, with mechanisms in place to test officer and staff understanding; and d. in addition to Recommendation 18 - increased use of police Designing Out Crime Officers in the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces - taking sustained action to train, empower and embed these roles in forces.

In June 2026, Natalie Fleet, answering for the Home Office in a written parliamentary answer to Bell Ribeiro-Addy, stated that the department was "carefully considering the Inquiry’s Part 2 First Report’s recommendations and will respond as soon as possible" (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). She affirmed that the government was committed to ensuring women and girls feel safe going about their everyday lives (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the Home Office's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

By March 2026, the Home Office, working with the National Police Chiefs' Council, and the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, should agree plans for the full, consistent and sustainable implementation of Operation Soteria across all forces in England and Wales. This should include agreement of multi-year funding, covering the period until Operation Soteria has been both fully implemented and evaluated in all forces, with any issues arising from each evaluation being addressed. In addition, Police and Crime Commissioners should specifically liaise with Chief Constables on the implementation of Operation Soteria in their areas, to understand its impact on the delivery of the force's Police and Crime Plan, and its contribution to national policing capabilities aimed at tackling violence against women and girls.

Answering a written parliamentary question for the Home Office in June 2026, Natalie Fleet affirmed the government's commitment to ensuring women and girls feel safe and stated that it was "carefully considering the Inquiry’s Part 2 First Report’s recommendations and will respond as soon as possible" (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the department's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

By June 2026, building on the wider violence against women and girls strategy, the Government should publish a comprehensive, multi-year and whole-system prevention strategy, which specifically targets the perpetrators of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. This strategy should: a. coordinate activity and measures aimed at: (i) preventing these crimes happening in the first place; and (ii) reducing the risk of perpetrators reoffending; b. coordinate and direct work to encourage reporting of these crimes; c. be based on: (i) a clear expectation of how and why the planned actions aim to contribute to prevention of crimes (informed by the research commissioned under Recommendation 17(b); and (ii) comprehensive and meaningful engagement with stakeholders, including charity and voluntary sector groups who represent victims and perpetrators; d. adopt a public health approach, with prevention activity across primary, secondary and tertiary levels; e. provide absolute clarity on the roles and responsibilities of essential and accountable sectors, agencies and departments to help avoid duplication in efforts and strengthen joint working - this should include: (i) following liaison with the National Police Chiefs' Council, clarity on the extent of the role of policing in primary prevention (i.e. tackling the underlying roots of violence against women and girls); and (ii) where appropriate, introducing statutory duties where this is assessed as most needed; f. have secure multi-year funding, aligning with at least the ten-year period specified for halving violence against women and girls; and g. include the establishment of a robust evaluation mechanism - in order to measure the success of the prevention strategy - which should be aligned with the recommendations of the Home Affairs Committee's 2025 report Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls: Funding and include a set of common metrics to allow for assessment of activity across all levels, and to measure progress. If an assessment is made that new statutory duties or obligations are required to support the implementation of this prevention strategy and avoid duplication in efforts and strengthen joint working, steps should be taken without delay to secure the introduction of the relevant legislation.

In a June 2026 written answer for the Home Office, Natalie Fleet stated that the government was committed to ensuring women and girls feel safe going about their everyday lives, was "carefully considering" the recommendations of the report, and would respond as soon as possible (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the department's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

By March 2026, the College of Policing, working with the National Police Chiefs' Council including the Office of the Police Chief Scientific Adviser, the Home Office, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, and the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, should ensure that there are improved mechanisms in place to identify, test and roll out promising initiatives designed to prevent sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. This should include: a. continuing to encourage local innovation, but with an improved, standard mechanism in place by which local innovations can be tested, rolled out and evaluated nationally, learning from Operation Soteria; and b. working with the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners on an approach that encourages Police and Crime Commissioners (and their successors) and mayoral offices to liaise with Chief Constables about the implementation of rolled-out measures, the impact they can have on delivery of the forces' Police and Crime Plans, and their contribution to national policing capabilities in prevention of violence against women and girls; this work should include obtaining an understanding of the rationale behind any decision not to implement any measure, and recording those reasons.

Answering for the Home Office in June 2026, Natalie Fleet stated that the government was carefully considering the recommendations of the Part 2 First Report and "will respond as soon as possible" (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). She added in June 2026 that the government remained committed to ensuring women and girls feel safe going about their everyday lives (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the department's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

Immediately, the Home Office, as the lead department for the response to violence against women and girls, in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Transport, and national and local policing organisations, should prioritise prevention activity targeting the perpetrators of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. This should include the following actions: a. Immediately, the Home Office commissioning research to draw together and analyse information on the perpetrators of sexually motivated crimes against women in public, in order to help target preventative activity. This should include analysis of: i. information from behaviour change programmes on perpetrators' patterns of behaviour; their motivations for behaviour change; and what is most effective at preventing this behaviour; and ii. information from academic and operational knowledge produced by Project Vigilant, Operation Soteria, the Metropolitan Police Service's Violence Against Women and Girls 100 (V100) programme and similar programmes of perpetrator-focused work. b. By November 2026, the College of Policing and, within it, the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs' Council, should use this research to develop training and guidance on how to identify and target policing activity against potential perpetrators of sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces. This should include an interventions toolkit for use in forces. The training and guidance should be rolled out to forces by April 2027. It should then be updated annually, based on priorities identified in the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Threat Risk Assessment (which the National Police Chiefs' Council should update in light of the research in Recommendation 17(a)). c. By December 2027, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary should complete an inspection of the implementation of the new training and guidance in Recommendation 17(b), and of the efficiency and effectiveness of forces in adopting a perpetrator focus. This should include assessment of how successfully forces are balancing this focus with an appropriate and effective response to victims. d. Immediately, and while acknowledging the fact that many sexual offences are never reported to the police, the Home Office should include, as a metric within its evaluation of the success of the Government's commitment to halve violence against women and girls in ten years, the number of perpetrators of these crimes who are prevented from further sexual offending. As a minimum, this should include: the number of perpetrators who are (i) arrested; (ii) prosecuted; and (iii) convicted of these crimes; and in addition (iv) information on reoffending rates for these categories; and (v) data on the number of individuals interrupted through Project Vigilant patrols.

In a written parliamentary answer in June 2026, Natalie Fleet, answering for the Home Office, affirmed the Government's commitment to ensuring women and girls feel safe going about their everyday lives and stated that ministers were "carefully considering the Inquiry’s Part 2 First Report’s recommendations and will respond as soon as possible" (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the department's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

By March 2026, the College of Policing and the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, working with the National Police Chiefs' Council and the Crown Prosecution Service, should create a consistent and clear standard for police investigations in this area, explicitly addressing the detection of predatory perpetrators. The Home Secretary should give consideration to using her powers under section 53A of the Police Act 1996, which enables her to issue regulations that mandate police forces to follow particular procedures and practices.

In June 2026, Natalie Fleet, answering for the Home Office, stated that the government was carefully considering the recommendations of the inquiry's Part 2 First Report (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The Minister affirmed that the government remains committed to ensuring women and girls feel safe going about their everyday lives, adding that it will "respond as soon as possible" (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).

Immediately, the Government should take action to make it clearer that preventing sexually motivated offences against women in public is an essential part of tackling violence against women and girls. This should include the following: a. The Government should ensure that this Report, the detail of the violence against women and girls strategy, and the prevention strategy at Recommendation 25 (and the evaluation of its success, if available) are before the Secretary of State to inform her view on how to update future versions of the Strategic Policing Requirement. This is so that the Secretary of State can use this information to assess the level of importance and prominence to give to the threat of violence against women and girls (compared with the other identified national threats); and specifically to the prioritisation of the prevention of sexual offences against women in public spaces. b. The Government should commit to and pursue a positive ambition that generally these crimes are preventable, not inevitable, with a clear focus on prevention being key to meeting the target of halving violence against women and girls over ten years. c. The Government should ensure that there is a clear focus on identifying, responding to and preventing sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces in the job descriptions, training and guidance for the remodelled neighbourhood policing roles. d. The Government has, previously, provided an initial response to Creating a Safer World - The Challenge of Regulating Online Pornography, the 2025 Independent Pornography Review conducted by Baroness Bertin. This included recognising the need to act urgently to tackle the harms from illegal and harmful pornography online, and the link between attitudes and behaviours in the online and offline world. The Government also recognised that this is crucial in order to deliver the mission to halve violence against women and girls in ten years. It is deeply worrying that harmful content that would be illegal offline remains unrestrained online. Therefore, the Government should provide a full response to each of the recommendations in the Review by February 2026, to enable cross-cutting prevention activity alongside the recommendations in this Report.

In a June 2026 written answer, Natalie Fleet, answering for the Home Office, stated that the government was committed to ensuring women and girls feel safe in their everyday lives and was "carefully considering the Inquiry’s Part 2 First Report’s recommendations" before responding as soon as possible (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026). The record holds no update since the department's response of June 2026 (Natalie Fleet response, Jun 2026).