it with have approached it with thoroughness, professionalism and sensitivity. and we all owe thanks to the brave testimony of those who came forward and spoke to the inquiry. everyone who couzens hurt is in my thoughts today. the report makes 16 recommendations and they include improving the police response to indecent exposure, performing police recruitment and vetting practices, and addressing cultures within policing. the government will now of course carefully consider the report and respond formally in due course and i will inform the house. we are taking action to address public confidence in the police. there has already been progress in a number of errors highlighted by the inquiry. anyone who was not fit to wear the uniform

for any reason must be removed from policing and every effort must be made to ensure that similar people neverjoin. that is why we are providing funding to the national police chiefs�* council to develop an automated system to flag about police officers. we are changing the rules to make it easier for forces to remove those who cannot hold the minimum level of clearance and police chiefs are getting back the responsibility for sharing these conduct hearings so that they can better uphold the standards in the forces that they lead. there will be a presumption for dismissal for any officerfound to have a presumption for dismissal for any officer found to have committed gross misconduct and i can announce today that there will also be an automatic suspension of police officers charged with certain criminal offences. but the work must continue. part two of the report is

considering systemic issues in policing such as vetting, recruitment and the culture, as well as the safety of women in public spaces. i will of course read those findings closely and with care. madam deputy speaker, sarah everard�*s murder started a national conversation about violence and women and girls. my right honourable friend the member of the witham rio pinnacles evidence —— reopened a coffin in —— we opened a call many sharing their own harrowing experience. that evidence demonstrated the terrible truth. women and girls routinely feel unsafe. this is unacceptable, it should anger us all and the whole society should treat change in this area as an urgent priority.

tackling violence against women and girls is and has been a priority for a long time for me. it has set out a policing requirement, meaning it is rightly considered to be something as serious in our focus is tackling terrorism. ourtackling as serious in our focus is tackling terrorism. our tackling violence against women and girls strategy and tackling domestic abuse plans are backed up by significant investment. we are changing the law so that rapists will serve their full sated full sentence behind bars, with no option of release that the two thirds point. and anyone who commits murder with a sexual or sadistic element will spend the rest of their daysin element will spend the rest of their days in prison. our safer streets fund and safety for women at night fund and safety for women at night fun is a broad range of projects across england and wales. the online street safe tool allows the public to anonymously report areas where

they feel safe and why they feel that. there is a new national operating model for investigation of rape and serious sexual offences. it means that the police and prosecutors will work more closely together, building stronger cases that focus on the behaviour of the suspect and place victims at the heart of everything. we have launched the nationwide campaign called enough, to bring about an enduring shift in attitudes and behaviours that underpin the abuse of women and girls. most police officers of course use their powers to serve the public bravely and well. but when they full short, the impact can be devastating. society cannot function properly where trust in police is eroded. i�*m unambiguous

that police forces must keep improving and must command the confidence of the people they serve, and it is imperative that police leadership of whatever rank plays a part in this endeavour. i want once again to express my heartfelt sympathy to sarah everard�*s family and friends. i cannot begin to imagine the extent of the pain that they have felt, but together, we must do everything possible to stop such agony being visited on others, to rebuild public trust, and to make sure that our streets and public places, as well as the private realm our safer women and girls and i commend this statement to the house. thank you, madam deputy speaker. can i think_ thank you, madam deputy speaker. can i think there _ thank you, madam deputy speaker. can i think there home secretary for

advance — i think there home secretary for advance sight of the statement. two years— advance sight of the statement. two years ago. _ advance sight of the statement. two years ago, this sunday, a young women— years ago, this sunday, a young woman working home was abducted and killed by— woman working home was abducted and killed by a _ woman working home was abducted and killed by a serving police officer that she — killed by a serving police officer that she should have been able to trust _ that she should have been able to trust to— that she should have been able to trust to keep her safe. we think, today, _ trust to keep her safe. we think, today, i— trust to keep her safe. we think, today, i have sarah everard, her parents. — today, i have sarah everard, her parents, family and friends who have to live _ parents, family and friends who have to live with _ parents, family and friends who have to live with the shattering consequences of what happened. this is also _ consequences of what happened. this is also a _ consequences of what happened. this is also a day— consequences of what happened. this is also a day when many families who have lost— is also a day when many families who have lost sisters, daughters, mothers _ have lost sisters, daughters, mothers to violence here in parliament to hear my honourable friend _ parliament to hear my honourable friend the — parliament to hear my honourable friend the member for birmingham yardley— friend the member for birmingham yardlev to — friend the member for birmingham yardley to hear and read out the names— yardley to hear and read out the names of— yardley to hear and read out the names of women killed this year. so, today's— names of women killed this year. so, today's damning report is about women — today's damning report is about women public safety and as for all women _ women public safety and as for all women across the country who worry about _ women across the country who worry about walking home alone, or worry about— about walking home alone, or worry about their— about walking home alone, or worry about their daughters's safety. it is also about trust and confidence in policihd — is also about trust and confidence in policing. whether we have the standards— in policing. whether we have the standards in place to maintain

confidence and individual officers and for— confidence and individual officers and for the vast majority of the police — and for the vast majority of the police officers working immensely hard with — police officers working immensely hard with integrity to keep communities safe, whose work is undermined when standards fail. so, ithank— undermined when standards fail. so, ithahk lady— undermined when standards fail. so, i thank lady eilish for her inquiry and this— i thank lady eilish for her inquiry and this comprehensive first report and this comprehensive first report and thank— and this comprehensive first report and thank those who came forward to -ive and thank those who came forward to give evidence. but it exposes a catalogue — give evidence. but it exposes a catalogue of appalling failures in the police vetting and misconduct processes — the police vetting and misconduct processes and in investigating ihdeceht — processes and in investigating indecent exposure and sexual offences _ indecent exposure and sexual offences. wayne couzens should never have been— offences. wayne couzens should never have been a _ offences. wayne couzens should never have been a police officer. he should — have been a police officer. he should have been stopped and he could _ should have been stopped and he could have been stopped from being a police _ could have been stopped from being a police officer. it is truly appalling his history of alleged offending stretches back so many years _ offending stretches back so many years and — offending stretches back so many years and yet opportunities to ever investigate were repeatedly missed. and investigate were repeatedly missed. ahd most— investigate were repeatedly missed. and most disturbing of all, lady eilish— and most disturbing of all, lady eilish savs — and most disturbing of all, lady eilish says there is nothing to stop another— eilish says there is nothing to stop another wayne couzens operating in plain sight.

although i agree with what most of the home — although i agree with what most of the home secretary has said, his response — the home secretary has said, his response is— the home secretary has said, his response is too weak. it is too little _ response is too weak. it is too little and _ response is too weak. it is too little and it _ response is too weak. it is too little and it is too late and the lack _ little and it is too late and the lack of — little and it is too late and the lack of urgency is unfathomable to me. lack of urgency is unfathomable to me the _ lack of urgency is unfathomable to me. the government has been repeatedly warned about failures arouhd _ repeatedly warned about failures around misconduct. reports in 2012, and 2019. _ around misconduct. reports in 2012, and 2019, and 2022, and 2023, all highlighting serious failures in vetting — highlighting serious failures in vetting procedures. it is why labour called _ vetting procedures. it is why labour called two _ vetting procedures. it is why labour called two years ago, i called two years— called two years ago, i called two years ago— called two years ago, i called two years ago for a mandatory national vetting _ years ago for a mandatory national vetting standards. individuals are working. — vetting standards. individuals are working, forces are working hard but there _ working, forces are working hard but there isn't— working, forces are working hard but there isn't mandatory standards for all forces — there isn't mandatory standards for all forces. all the government has done _ all forces. all the government has done is _ all forces. all the government has done is brought in a code of practice, _ done is brought in a code of practice, two and a half years after sarah _ practice, two and a half years after sarah everard's murder. it isn't strong — sarah everard's murder. it isn't strong enough. it isn't even clear

if bolice — strong enough. it isn't even clear if police officers like these would definitely have failed the vetting standards and the code of practice, eveh _ standards and the code of practice, even if— standards and the code of practice, even if it— standards and the code of practice, even if it had been in at the time. he has— even if it had been in at the time. he has to — even if it had been in at the time. he has to go _ even if it had been in at the time. he has to go further and it has to be driven— he has to go further and it has to be driven by the home office. on the misconduct _ be driven by the home office. on the misconduct charges that he has referred — misconduct charges that he has referred to, most of them aren't even _ referred to, most of them aren't even in — referred to, most of them aren't even in place yet, again, three years— even in place yet, again, three years after— even in place yet, again, three years after sarah everard was murdered. forthe home years after sarah everard was murdered. for the home secretary now commit _ murdered. for the home secretary now commit today to a new mandatory framework — commit today to a new mandatory framework for vetting underpinned by legislation that all forces must abide — legislation that all forces must abide by. we will support him in doing _ abide by. we will support him in doing so — abide by. we will support him in doing so. that will pursue any evidence _ doing so. that will pursue any evidence about the past, domestic abuse _ evidence about the past, domestic abuse and — evidence about the past, domestic abuse and sexual offending, not, and will he _ abuse and sexual offending, not, and will he accept recommendations six which _ will he accept recommendations six which looks at review of indecent exposure — which looks at review of indecent exposure allegations and other allegations against serving police officers — allegations against serving police officers. at minimum, sure he can accept _ officers. at minimum, sure he can accept that— officers. at minimum, sure he can accept that today? only suspending

beoble _ accept that today? only suspending people for criminal offences once they have — people for criminal offences once they have been charged? once investigations are being launched into a _ investigations are being launched into a serving police officers around _ into a serving police officers around domestic abuse or sexual offences, — around domestic abuse or sexual offences, those offices should be automatically suspended. and we have called _ automatically suspended. and we have called for— automatically suspended. and we have called for this again repeatedly, he is not _ called for this again repeatedly, he is not going far enough. in response the wider— is not going far enough. in response the wider women's safety, it is simply— the wider women's safety, it is simply not _ the wider women's safety, it is simply not enough. i welcome the individual— simply not enough. i welcome the individual policies he referred to, most _ individual policies he referred to, most of— individual policies he referred to, most of them are things that we have called _ most of them are things that we have called for. _ most of them are things that we have called for, but again it is no near end now — called for, but again it is no near end now on— called for, but again it is no near end now. on indecent exposure, we have lied _ end now. on indecent exposure, we have lied about the awful magic of libby— have lied about the awful magic of libby squire and 2019 —— land about the awful— libby squire and 2019 —— land about the awful murder of libby squire. so again. _ the awful murder of libby squire. so again, surely he can accept at least

recommendations, the first three recommendations, the first three recommendations of lady angiolini's rebort~ _ recommendations of lady angiolini's report. surely he can do that. the reality— report. surely he can do that. the reality of— report. surely he can do that. the reality of women's safety is the number— reality of women's safety is the number of prosecutions for domestic abuse _ number of prosecutions for domestic abuse has _ number of prosecutions for domestic abuse has halved. rape prosecutions are still— abuse has halved. rape prosecutions are still taking years. early action and interventionjust does not happen— and interventionjust does not happen and there is a shocking drift in women's — happen and there is a shocking drift in women's safety, and what the home secretary— in women's safety, and what the home secretary has said today. i urge him to support _ secretary has said today. i urge him to support labour's call, to support so that— to support labour's call, to support so that the — to support labour's call, to support so that the police respond with urgency— so that the police respond with urgency to domestic abuse, and listen _ urgency to domestic abuse, and listen to— urgency to domestic abuse, and listen to lisa squire, the mother of libby— listen to lisa squire, the mother of libby squire. we said sarah everard's _ libby squire. we said sarah everard's murder should be a watershed but far too little has

changed — watershed but far too little has changed. how far must be go on and say the _ changed. how far must be go on and say the same things? the first women's — say the same things? the first women's safety much was on the street— women's safety much was on the street of— women's safety much was on the street of leeds nearly 50 years ago and we _ street of leeds nearly 50 years ago and we are — street of leeds nearly 50 years ago and we are saying the same thing about— and we are saying the same thing about it _ and we are saying the same thing about it today. i am sick and tired of nothing — about it today. i am sick and tired of nothing changes, of women and -irls of nothing changes, of women and girls who _ of nothing changes, of women and girls who face abuse and violence not getting support while perpetrators get away with it. enough — perpetrators get away with it. enoughis perpetrators get away with it. enough is enough. let us have some urgency— enough is enough. let us have some urgency in— enough is enough. let us have some urgency in the home secretary's response — urgency in the home secretary's response. we cannot stand for this any more — response. we cannot stand for this any more. we response. we cannot stand for this an more. ~ . response. we cannot stand for this an more. . ., , , any more. we have been bringing you statements life _ any more. we have been bringing you statements life in _ any more. we have been bringing you statements life in the _ any more. we have been bringing you statements life in the house - any more. we have been bringing you statements life in the house of - statements life in the house of commons. we had there from james cleverly, the home secretary, he said that the inquiry was a deeply distressing and important piece of work and thanked those who came forward. he said the government is considering the report and taking action and that anybody who is not fit to wear a uniform must be removed by policing. we also heard from the shadow home secretary

yvette cooper who said that while she agrees with the home secretary, his responses to week, it is too late and the government have been repeatedly warned about vetting sieges and she called for mandatory national vetting standards. we have also been hearing in the last hour from the national police chiefs�* council chair, chief constable gavin stevens, who said that the finding has left him aghast and there is a glowing red signal to all police leaders that we must do everything humanely possible in order to enact these recommendations. so reaction to the recommendations there. stay with us.

live from london. this is bbc news. an inquiry into the death of sarah everard has found that her killer wayne couzens should never have been a police officer and opportunities to stop him continuing his career and offending were missed. vladimir putin has warned the west that moving nato troops into ukraine risks a nuclear war.

translation: they need to finally understand that we, too, _ have weapons, and they know that. i havejust mentioned we, too, have weapons that can strike targets on their territory. a blast skill killed scores of people waiting to aid in gaza. more 30,000 people have been killed in gaza since the conflict began on october 7th. tributes pour in for dave myers, best known as one half of the presenting duo the hairy bikers, who has died at the age of 66. hello, i�*m lewis vaughanjones, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. an inquiry into how a serving metropolitan police officer was able to abduct, rape and murder a woman in 2021 has concluded he should never have been given a job in the force. wayne couzens joined kent police as a special constable in 2002, beforejoining the metropolitan police in 2018.