Adding domestic and sexual violence to the new policing bill would send a clear message to the public and to officers
- Nicole Jacobs is the domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales
Being a police officer comes with a badge of trust. That trust was ruthlessly abused and betrayed by Wayne Couzens, leaving us all reeling with horror, rage and sadness. Despite some protestations, this is not about one bad apple, but instead about institutional misogyny within our police forces and a wider failure to tackle violence and domestic abuse against women and girls.
As the domestic abuse commissioner, I hear from survivors every day who feel let down by the police and criminal justice system. Even before recent events there was a persistent lack of confidence among women who have experienced domestic abuse and sexual assault to come forward, to report, and to support prosecutions to bring offenders to justice.
Nicole Jacobs is the domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales