Recommendation ANG-15: Remove barriers to reporting sexual offences by colleagues
From Angiolini Inquiry Part 1 Report, published 29 February 2024.
Recommendation
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.
In brief (written by this site)
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).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 16 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Government response
We have reviewed the findings and recommendations in detail and accept them all. We have a number of ongoing national improvement plans and we are assessing how these will be updated and added to in light of the Inquiry findings.
However, the report today highlights the need for further action and the government, in tandem with policing partners, will thoroughly consider the recommendations made by Lady Elish and respond in full in due course.
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (5 October 2026)
Work continues nationally to strengthen reporting, investigation and victim support mechanisms, ensuring that complaints are managed appropriately and that complainants receive the necessary support throughout the process.
Work is being carried out by the NPCC Culture Portfolio to understand and address the cultural barriers that can prevent staff from reporting harassment, sexual offences and inappropriate behaviour committed by colleagues. A National Culture Guide is being developed, with support from representatives from academia.
Forces are interpreting this sub recommendation more broadly than dedicated reporting processes and are increasingly adopting broader models that combine a range of mechanisms.
From: Angiolini Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, October 2026 (data file)
Site note: The dashboard reports recommendation 15 by its sub-recommendations, a to c. Each paragraph is one sub-recommendation's cell, in that order.
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
Angiolini Inquiry (2 December 2025)
1.45 Summary of progress: Progress on this recommendation has not been made as planned, with feedback from forces showing disagreements in how and when implementation of this recommendation will take place, and what form it will take at a force level. Despite this, the Inquiry was told that efforts to address this nationally will be made through the introduction of a National Police Chiefs’ Council Assurance Lead to manage and evaluate progress. The College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council’s joint Culture and Inclusion Strategy 2025–2030 sets out a national plan to embed diversity and inclusion, strengthen leadership accountability and empower officers to challenge poor behaviour.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- National Police Chiefs Council
Response - Home Office
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement - Angiolini Inquiry
Finding