The Government must step up action on tackling violence against women - Diana Johnson

Libby’s murder was not an out-of-the-blue attack. For 16 months her murderer had committed a string of sexually-motivated offences. These included indecent exposure, masturbating in public, spying on women through their windows, and stealing sex toys and underwear.

The behaviour of men who expose themselves, catcall, stalk and follow women on the streets is devastatingly everyday and normalised. Many of Libby’s killer’s earlier crimes had not been reported to police, simply because his victims felt that they would not be taken seriously and no action would follow.

On March 6, Wayne Couzens was handed a 19-month sentence for indecent exposure, having committed a string of non-contact sexual offences in the years before his arrest. One of these incidents, when he exposed himself at a McDonald’s drive-thru, happened just days before he kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard.

In passing sentence on these offences, Mrs Justice May commented that Wayne Couzens’ ability to commit these deeds with impunity only strengthened the “dangerous belief in his invincibility”. As with Libby’s murderer, the offences escalated.

A review of evidence from 2014 found that a quarter of men who exposed themselves went on to reoffend with up to 10 per cent going on to commit serious sexual offences. Since 2018, almost 250 men found guilty of indecent exposure have subsequently been found guilty of rape – an offence with a scandalously low prosecution rate.

Since her daughter’s murder, Libby’s Mum, the formidable Lisa Squire, has fought to raise the importance of reporting low-level sexual offences to police. Working with Humberside Police, Lisa’s Libby Campaign has reached more than 17,000 young people in Hull and the Humber.

The message is clear. These offences are not trivial or harmless. If you are the victim, please report it. It could save another woman’s life. If women are going to report crimes, they must have faith that they will be believed, respected and that action will be taken – and confidence that police themselves are not a danger.

On the Home Affairs Select Committee we are inquiring into policing priorities. Too many women feel like violence against women and girls isn't given the attention it needs. A recent analysis found that of the 10,000 indecent exposure cases logged by police in 2020, only 600 reached court. That is not enough. The Government must step up action on tackling violence against women and girls. The Prime Minister declared it a ‘national emergency’ back in November. It did not, however, become one of his top five priorities. Why not make it the sixth?

Indecent exposure is not a minor crime. We must take it far more seriously. For Libby, for Sarah, for all the other women taken from us - and for the women in danger of appearing on Jess’s list in the future.

Dame Diana Johnson is the Labour MP for Hull North and is chair of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee.