Every police officer will be required to undergo training on
violence against women and girls as part of far-reaching Labour
Party plans to raise standards in policing across England and
Wales.
Labour is also promising an overhaul of vetting procedures to bar
anyone with a history of domestic abuse or sexual offending from
joining the police and ensure rogue officers are rooted
out.
Highly respected former Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, who
was in charge of the Hampshire force for seven years and led
policing’s senior leadership development programme, will act
as an adviser to the party as it develops its strategy.
Ms Pinkney also has wide experience as a trustee of
several charities supporting vulnerable people and survivors of
rape, domestic violence and sexual abuse.
MP, Labour’s Shadow Home
Secretary, is warning there is an “urgent need” for
reform to restore public confidence in policing following a
series of high-profile scandals.
Last week (Feb 29), the Angiolini Inquiry reported on a catalogue
of appalling failings in the case of former Metropolitan Police
officer Wayne Couzens, who kidnapped, raped and murdered
Sarah Everard in 2021.
The Inquiry found that Couzens, who had a long history of
allegations of sexual offending dating back nearly 20 years,
should never have been allowed to join the police. It said
victims who came forward were not taken seriously enough and a
series of ‘red flags’ about his behaviour weren’t acted
upon.
Ms Cooper said:
“The Angiolini report suggests that rather than being a
one-off problem there are fundamental failings in police vetting,
recruitment, monitoring and training. The vital work
that tens of thousands of dedicated
officers across the country are doing each day to
keep us safe is being undermined by the failure to
address standards and restore confidence in policing,
and the lack of leadership from the Government.
“We need wholesale changes so that people
like Couzens are never let in through the door of a
police force.
“In government, Labour would make police reform a priority with a
package of measures to instil the very highest
standards of vetting, ethics, behaviour and
performance in the service.”
Although some police forces already offer courses on issues
related to violence against women and girls, Labour would ensure
that it becomes a standard part of police training for every
officer. In addition, forces would be expected to put new
leadership training in place to help transform the culture of the
service.
Ms Cooper says Labour would implement recommendations from
the Angiolini report on indecent exposure so that it is treated
as the serious crime it is and that victims are taken
seriously.
"Sarah Everard’s murder should have been a watershed on policing
reform and on the response to violence against women and girls.
Too little has changed. Enough is enough. We need urgent
action on standards and safety," she will say.
The party is also pledging to introduce a mandatory police
vetting requirement to stop discrepancies between the 43
constabularies in recruitment standards. Applicants with a
history of domestic abuse, indecent exposure or sexual assault
would be automatically barred.
There would be new rules to ensure forces comply with
professional standards on corruption and misconduct as well as
tougher powers for the policing watchdog, HM Inspectorate of
Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services, to hold chief constables
to account if they fail to act on recommendations.
Other measures Labour has announced to drive down violence
against women and girls include specialist rape and sexual
assault units in each force, domestic violence call handlers in
every 999 control room and a new
perpetrator programme to target the 1,000 most
dangerous abusers and sex offenders who pose a risk to
women.
The measures will form part of ‘Raneem’s Law’ which is named
after Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola.
They were killed by Raneem’s ex-partner in 2018,
despite her telling the police 13 times about violent abuse,
stalking and threats to kill in the months before the
murder.
Ms Pinkey said: “Raising standards in the police and
improving the culture of forces is vital work. I hope my
experience during three decades in policing will be helpful to
Labour as it develops its plans”.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Angiolini Inquiry:
https://www.angiolini.independent-inquiry.uk/
Labour’s Crime Mission:
https://labour.org.uk/missions/safe-streets/#:~:text=Tackling%20violence%20against%20women%20and%20girls.&text=We%20will%20introduce%20new%20specialist,and%20protection%20are%20not%20missed.
Raneem’s Law:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3g0rp30dp4o
Olivia Pinkney’s Linked-In profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-pinkney-cbe-qpm-dl-7b5a9872/?originalSubdomain=
