Police prioritisation of prevention
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.
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Jess Phillips made a written statement to Parliament (HCWS1122) on 2 December 2025 accepting all 13 Part 2 recommendations (Written Statement HCWS1122, 2 December 2025).
- The Home Office classified violence against women and girls as a national threat in February 2024, requiring police to prioritise their response (Angiolini Inquiry Part 1, Home Office, 29 February 2024).
- No specific public evidence that Chief Constables and PCCs have ensured prevention of sexually motivated crimes in public spaces is embedded in their VAWG and Police and Crime Plans as of March 2026.
How was this evidence gathered?
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