Sarah Everard report finds quarter of forces lack basic policies on sexual offences – BBC

Report on Police Failings in Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in England and Wales

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This report details institutional failures that directly contravene several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The findings highlight significant challenges in achieving:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality – Specifically Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls in public and private spheres.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Specifically Target 16.3, which aims to ensure equal access to justice for all and build effective, accountable institutions.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Specifically Target 11.7, which focuses on providing universal access to safe and inclusive public spaces for women.

Key Findings of the Angiolini Inquiry

Institutional Deficiencies and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

The Angiolini Inquiry has identified critical failings within police institutions, undermining the principles of justice and accountability central to SDG 16. Four years after the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer, urgent action is required to reform these institutions.

• Over 25% of police forces in England and Wales have not implemented basic policies for investigating sexual offences.
• A significant disparity exists between the resources and preventative activity allocated to VAWG compared to other high-priority crimes.
• Despite the government classifying VAWG as a “national threat,” this priority is not reflected in operational policing, hindering progress towards reducing violence as per SDG 16.1.

Data Gaps and Their Impact on SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

The report underscores how inadequate data management obstructs efforts to achieve gender equality by failing to protect women and girls from violence.

• There are major gaps in national data, including how many women report rape and other sexually motivated crimes occurring in public spaces.
• Without consistent data collection and recording across all forces, patterns of offending cannot be identified, preventing targeted interventions to eliminate violence against women.

Recommendations for Progress Towards SDGs

Strengthening Institutions and Justice (SDG 16)

To build more effective and accountable institutions in line with SDG 16, the inquiry proposes several key actions:

1. Implement urgent strategies to proactively target predatory men.
2. Establish consistent systems for the collection and sharing of data on VAWG at both national and local levels to inform policy and operations.
3. Ensure that VAWG is treated with the same level of priority and funding as other national threats.

Promoting Gender Equality and Safe Public Spaces (SDG 5 & SDG 11)

The recommendations aim to create safer environments and foster societal change, contributing directly to the goals of SDG 5 and SDG 11.

1. Introduce a wider Good Samaritan law to encourage public intervention when witnessing threatening behaviour.
2. Improve public infrastructure to enhance safety, including better street lighting in communities.
3. Launch targeted and consistent public messaging campaigns on how to report crimes such as indecent exposure.
4. Develop and disseminate information promoting positive masculinity for men and boys.

Government Response and Future Commitments

The government has acknowledged the inquiry’s findings and stated its commitment to addressing the issues raised.

• The Home Secretary affirmed that the government will “carefully consider each recommendation.”
• A stated goal is to halve the rate of violence against women and girls within the next decade.
• A comprehensive Violence Against Women and Girls strategy is expected to be unveiled to outline the government’s plan of action.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article’s central theme is Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), including the rape and murder of Sarah Everard and the sexual assault and murder of Zara Aleena. This directly addresses the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls by focusing on the elimination of violence against them.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article discusses the safety of women in public spaces, noting that the victims were attacked while walking home. It highlights recommendations for making public spaces safer, such as “better street lighting,” which connects to the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article critically examines the failure of institutions, specifically police forces. It reports that “More than a quarter of police forces… have not implemented basic policies for investigating sexual offences.” This points to a lack of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions, which is a core component of SDG 16. The call for better data collection and coordinated responses also relates to strengthening institutional capacity.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.
   • The entire article is focused on this target. It discusses “violent, sexual attacks against women and girls,” the need to target “predatory men,” and the government’s plan to “halve violence against women and girls.” The murders of Sarah Everard and Zara Aleena are cited as extreme examples of this violence.
2. Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women.
   • The article highlights the danger women face in public spaces, as both victims mentioned were attacked while walking home. The recommendation for “better street lighting” is a direct measure aimed at improving the safety of these spaces for women, aligning with this target.
3. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The article addresses murder and sexual assault, which are severe forms of violence. The inquiry’s focus on preventing “further violent, sexual attacks” and the call for consistent data collection to spot “patterns of offending” are directly related to reducing violence and its fatal consequences.
4. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • The report’s finding that many police forces lack “basic policies for investigating sexual offences” is a direct critique of institutional effectiveness and accountability. The inquiry itself and its recommendations are efforts to reform these institutions to make them more effective in protecting citizens, particularly women and girls.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for Target 5.2 & 16.1:
   • Number of reported crimes: The article explicitly points to “gaps in national data, including how many women report being the victim of rape and other sexually motivated crimes in public spaces.” The collection of this data would serve as a direct indicator.
   • Reduction target: The government’s stated plan to “halve violence against women and girls in the next decade” is a specific, measurable indicator of progress.
2. Indicators for Target 11.7:
   • Safety infrastructure: The recommendation for “better street lighting” implies that the number or percentage of public areas with improved lighting could be used as an indicator of safer public spaces.
3. Indicators for Target 16.6:
   • Policy implementation: The article provides a direct indicator by stating, “More than a quarter of police forces in England and Wales have not implemented basic policies for investigating sexual offences.” The percentage of forces that have implemented these policies can be tracked over time.
   • Data systems: The recommendation for “consistent collection and sharing of data on national and local levels” implies that the existence and effectiveness of such a system would be an indicator of institutional improvement and transparency.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.com