ANG-16 Response Accepted AI-assessed

Improve conditions for female officers

Recommendation

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.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
The College of Policing and NPCC missed the September 2024 deadline for reviewing and examining conditions for female officers and staff. As of October 2025, progress varied across forces, and a national lead for this work was not appointed until June 2024 (Angiolini Inquiry Part 2 Report, 2025-10-09). While a Family Friendly Policy was rewritten, it was issued as guidance, raising concerns about its consistent implementation across all forces.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 18 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Section Reference
Recommendation 16
Response
Accepted
Under Consideration Home Office Initial Response
29 Feb 2024

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: "The act of pure evil committed against Sarah shocked the nation to its core. My heart goes out to Sarah's family and to all the brave victims who came forward to help inform this report and drive change. The man who committed these crimes is not a reflection on the majority of dedicated police officers working day in, day out to help people. But Sarah was failed in more ways than one by the people who were meant to keep her safe, and it laid bare wider issues in policing and society that need to be urgently fixed. In the 3 years since, a root and stem clean-up of the policing workforce has been underway and we have made huge strides – as well as making tackling violence against women and girls a national policing priority to be treated on par with terrorism. But we will continue to do everything in our power to protect women and girls. I am grateful to Lady Elish for her meticulous investigation. Her insights will be invaluable as we move forward in supporting our police to build forces of the highest standards of integrity and regain the trust of the British public."

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Accepted College of Policing Follow-up
25 Mar 2024

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and College of Policing has at the same time committed to addressing the remaining recommendations in Lady Angiolini's report concerning police culture and increasing the robustness of police vetting. The government will follow up with further detail on how the recommendations will be delivered in partnership with the College of Policing and NPCC in due course.

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Progress Timeline
Official Report
09 Oct 2025

Inquiry assessment: Deadline of September 2024 "was not achievable". Progress varies across forces with "no single repository of best practice". Revised deadline needed.

Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Insufficient Progress
09 Oct 2025
Angiolini Inquiry Part 2 Report Other

Deadline of September 2024 "was not achievable". Progress varies across forces with "no single repository of best practice". Revised deadline needed.

View detailed findings

NPCC lead not appointed until June 2024. National survey on kit and equipment found trousers still biggest issue for female officers. Family Friendly Policy rewritten but is "simply guidance" - concern it will not be implemented by all forces.

The Angiolini Inquiry Part 2 First Report, Chapte… View Source
Source
Report Angiolini Inquiry Part 1 Report 29 Feb 2024
Responsible Bodies
College of Policing Primary
Recommendation age 2.1 yrs
Last formal update 09 Oct 2025