Angiolini Inquiry

Lord Davies of Gower Excerpts

Monday 8th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Gower (Con)]

My Lords, I am sure I join the whole House in welcoming the publication of the first report of part 2 of the Angiolini Inquiry. It is a report that no one wished would ever be necessary but one that now stands as a bleak and urgent testament to the failures that have left too many women feeling unsafe to go about their daily lives.

We must start by remembering why this inquiry exists: the abhorrent murder of Sarah Everard, a young woman walking home, by a serving police officer, which shattered faith, trust and public confidence—and it particularly hurts me to say that. Her death was not just a tragedy for her family and friends; it exposed deep and systematic rot. We must never forget the human cost: a beloved daughter, sister and friend lost because protections failed. But this report is not solely about one individual; its purpose is far wider. Part 2 was commissioned to examine not just the crime of one man but the broader issues across policing and society, recruitment, vetting, police culture and standards, and the safety of women in public places.

What this report reveals is disturbing and unacceptable. Too many women remain fearful—changing their routes, avoiding dark streets, altering their behaviour—not because of what they do but because of what predatory men might do. The report puts it plainly, stating:

“Somehow, we have simply come to accept that many women do not feel safe walking in their streets”.


That must shock and unsettle every noble Lord, because it should not be normal to adjust one’s life out of fear of violence when walking home. I welcome the Government’s recent commitments—notably the creation of a national centre for violence against women and girls—and the putting of police vetting standards on a statutory footing, so that those with a record of violence against women and girls offences cannot serve in our police service.

These are important steps but, as this report makes clear and as the Statement rightly acknowledged, there is no quick fix. We need consistent, nationwide standards across all forces. We need resourcing, training and cultural change. We need comprehensive and transparent data so that progress, or the lack of it, cannot be hidden. On that note, I hope the Minister can finally give us a date on which the Government will publish their violence against women and girls strategy. In response to that question in the other place, the Safeguarding Minister simply said “very soon”—a phrase that I know the Minister is well acquainted with. Unfortunately, “very soon” has been the answer for quite some time. If the Minister cannot give a date, perhaps he could explain to the House what is taking so long.

Can he also set out whether the strategy will include a clear published timetable for implementation of all Lady Elish’s recommendations? Will it commit to robust data recording, not only of reported crimes but of patterns, follow-up investigations, outcomes and resource allocation across every police force? In honour of Sarah Everard and all victims and survivors of violence against women and girls, this House must act—not tomorrow, not next year, but now.