29th February 2024

PCC Statement on the Angiolini Report

My thoughts today are with Sarah Everard’s parents, her family and friends. Her murder by a serving Police Officer was a shock to us all. Both her family and the public deserve an explanation as to how this was able to happen and why so many opportunities were missed to stop him.

Kent Police has apologised for their role in this. The report highlights clear failings by the Force, which they have accepted, as do I. 

There are also wider failings across policing that enabled his offending to continue, through poor investigations, culture, vetting and misconduct processes. 

Standards across the country need to improve so that this can never happen again.

I will be asking to meet Lady Elish to discuss her findings and the implementation of her recommendations.

Some changes have already been made. Where reform is still needed, I will hold the Chief Constable to account to ensure that the recommendations of this report are acted on rigorously.