Guidance

Angiolini Inquiry part 2: terms of reference

Published 11 May 2023

Part 1 of this inquiry focuses on establishing a definitive account of the career and conduct of Sarah Everard’s murderer, and identifying any opportunities missed. The overarching aim of part 2 is to establish if there is a risk of recurrence across policing, to investigate police culture, and to address the broader concerns surrounding women’s safety in public spaces that were highlighted by Sarah Everard’s death.

Specifically, part 2 of the inquiry will examine the following areas to provide recommendations on improvement and, where appropriate, highlight examples of good practice:

1. The extent to which systems, policies and processes for the recruitment, vetting and transfer of police officers are fit for purpose and help to identify those who display misogynistic and/or predatory attitudes and behaviours, including:

 

a. ability of forces to attract candidates who intend to uphold fundamental policing values

b. attractiveness of policing careers for women and other candidates from diverse backgrounds

c. application and assessment processes, including for specialist firearms roles and force transfers

d. adequacy of recruitment, selection and vetting processes to identify misogynistic, predatory and abusive attitudes and behaviours, as well as the adequacy of further supervision related to risk management

e. interplay between force and National Security Vetting

f. information-sharing and record keeping

g. the development of perpetrator profiles for recent cases of femicide in public spaces (where the perpetrator was unknown to the victim) in order to inform vetting and recruitment practice

2. The extent to which aspects of police culture observed across police forces enable misogynistic and/or predatory attitudes and behaviours, and what the role of standards is, including:

 

a. how the culture and behaviours affect the police response to reports of crime - the inquiry will consider this through the lens of the police response to a sample of sexually motivated crimes committed against women in public spaces where the perpetrator was unknown to the victim, including indecent exposure

b. the role/effectiveness of police initiatives to make women and girls feel safer when interacting with the police

c. the extent to which police culture creates barriers to reporting crimes of indecent exposure (including call handling response, perceived and real failures to investigate reports, and recording)

d. role of group dynamics and microcultures

e. adequacy of processes for dealing with misconduct and performance issues

f. adequacy of counter-corruption measures to identify and manage the risk of Violence Against Women and Girls related misconduct (including police-perpetrated domestic abuse), including an exploration of perpetrator profiles to identify any common trends or similarities that might help with prevention

g. adequacy of induction and continuous training related to ethics, standards of behaviour, and vulnerability

h. effectiveness of whistleblowing and complaints processes

i. role of supervision and leadership

3. The extent to which existing measures prevent sexually motivated crimes against women in public spaces, including:

 

a. Producing a summary of existing measures to prevent sexually motivated violence against women in public spaces, for example, police and wider public safety/justice activity to protect women in public and measures to encourage individual and collective citizen action to improve women’s safety in public spaces

The inquiry will draw upon evidence from recent relevant reports to inform its work. This will include the recent report of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services on vetting, misconduct and misogyny in the police service, and Baroness Casey’s reports on culture and standards in the Metropolitan Police Service.

The inquiry will take into account the views of those most affected by these issues. This will include those who work in policing and those who have been the victim of relevant crimes. The inquiry will invite views and contributions from families of women murdered in public spaces.

Should the inquiry’s part 1 and/or Carrick case reports, when published, indicate further areas which necessitate examination in part 2, these will be considered for inclusion in the terms of reference for part 2 by the secretary of state for the Home Department.

The inquiry should make pragmatic choices as to its methods and procedure to ensure that it is delivered within 24 months of the agreed start of part 2. The methods are for the Chair of the inquiry to direct. The inquiry should operate with fairness and regard for the need to avoid unnecessary cost. It may use methods including, but not limited to:

• fieldwork with a nationally representative sample of forces/affected parties. In respect of forces, the inquiry will focus primarily on Home Office forces in England and Wales but may invite the participation of non Home Office forces where relevant

• findings from relevant research, reviews, inspections and Independent Office for Police Conduct investigations

The inquiry may make recommendations for steps that policing and its partners, as well as other bodies and organisations, need to implement to address issues arising from this work.

It shall provide a final report to the secretary of state for the Home Department within 24 months, taking into account any ongoing investigations and legal proceedings and will provide interim reports on each pillar.

The secretary of state for the Home Department will publish the report(s) and will have regard to her obligations under relevant human rights legislation and her duties in respect of national security before the report is published.