Sunak ignores Starmer when asked why mandatory police vetting not in place after Sarah Everard murder

Sunak ignored Starmer when asked why mandatory policing was not in place after Sarah Everard's murder.Source: Reuters

Transcript

00:00 Serious failures in police vetting were raised in independent reports as long ago as 2012,

00:08 2019, 2022 and 2023.

00:12 And that's why Labour's been arguing for mandatory national vetting standards,

00:18 which would stop anybody with a history of domestic abuse or sexual offending

00:22 being allowed to join the police in the first place.

00:25 Why are mandatory national vetting standards not already in place?

00:31 Well, Mr Speaker, it is vital for public confidence that those

00:35 that are not fit to wear the badge are routed out of the police

00:39 and not able to join in the first place.

00:41 That's why the College of Policing has updated its existing statutory code on vetting,

00:47 and that happened quickly.

00:49 And in addition, the policing inspectorate, Mr Speaker,

00:52 carried out a rapid respection of all forces' progress against the previous findings.

00:58 And in addition to that, an entire check against the national police database

01:03 was carried out for all serving officers and staff.