Ensuring the safety of women is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention, considering the significant toll of lives lost and shattered.
In July 2024, the National Police Chiefs’ Council declared the rampant violence against women and girls as a “national emergency”. Following the publication of the Angiolini Inquiry Part 2 report, it has become a national disgrace, highlighting the lack of progress post the tragic incident involving Sarah Everard.
Prompted by the brutal assault and murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard by police officer Wayne Couzens in London on March 3, 2021, the inquiry was established. Subsequently, on September 30 of the same year, Couzens was sentenced to life imprisonment, including a whole-life order.
The tragic event involving Sarah Everard marked a pivotal moment in the fight for women’s safety. The landscape shifted in March 2021 when Metropolitan Police Chief Cressida Dick revealed the arrest of a Metropolitan police officer for Everard’s murder. Criticism mounted against the Metropolitan Police for their handling of a vigil honoring Sarah Everard.
This incident raised concerns among UK women about their safety on the streets and the efficacy of the police, entrusted with public protection. According to the Angiolini Inquiry, even female police officers have resorted to changing their routines, routes, and behaviors to enhance personal safety.
The inquiry delved into broader policing and women’s safety issues emerging from the Couzens case and that of former police officer David Carrick, convicted in February 2023 for 49 offenses. A central focus of the report is to explore strategies to prevent sexually motivated violence against women and girls in public settings.
The report highlights how society has normalized sexual harassment and the constant vigilance women feel obliged to maintain, especially in potentially risky environments like parks, public transport, and nighttime settings.
A United Nations study revealed that 71% of UK women have encountered sexual harassment in public spaces at some point, with a higher prevalence among younger women aged 18-24, reaching 86%.
Half of the women surveyed for the Angiolini Inquiry admitted experiencing situations