A damning inquiry into sex crimes against women and girls in public places has been published, concluding that too many perpetrators are slipping through the cracks and that prevention schemes are often “just words”.

Four years after the murder of Sarah Everard in Clapham by a Metropolitan police officer, the second part of the Angiolini Inquiry found that there is a “critical failure” to answer basic questions about sexual violence, including how many women are raped by strangers each year. 

It said that urgent action is now needed to prevent further violent, sexual attacks against women and girls, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government would carefully consider the recommendations. 

The Standard’s Chief Political Correspondent Rachael Burford is here with the latest.

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