Labour pledges compulsory violence against women training for all police officers

Labour has announced a plan for all police officers to receive training on violence against women following the findings of an inquiry into Sarah Everard's killer, Wayne Couzens.

The party also plans to change the way police are checked before they join the force, saying they plan to bar anyone with a history of domestic abuse or sexual offending from becoming a police officer.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said there is a "urgent need" for big changes to help restore public trust in the police following a number of high-profile scandals.

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Labour said that Olivia Pinkney, who was in charge of Hampshire Constabulary for seven years and led policing's senior leadership development programme, will act as an adviser to the party as it develops its strategy.

A report published this week by Lady Elish Angiolini about former police officer Couzens found that he should never have been allowed to be a police officer. The report found chances to stop the sexual predator were repeatedly ignored and missed, accusing police of not noticing warning signs about his "unsuitability for office".

The report warned that unless there are big changes to how the police work and their culture, there is "nothing to stop another Couzens operating in plain sight".

The inquiry called Couzens a "predatory sex offender and murderer" and showed he had a history of alleged sexual offences going back nearly 20 years before the off-duty armed Metropolitan Police officer abducted Ms Everard in March 2021. He went on to rape and murder her.

Ms Cooper said: "The Angiolini report suggests that