Domestic abuse is a complex and difficult challenge that police can’t tackle alone

National Police Lead on Domestic Abuse, Assistant Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said:

“Domestic abuse is core police business. The leadership of the service has said that domestic abuse is a priority and we are committed to working with HMIC to make sure this is the case in every force.

“During its review, HMIC found the majority of victims were satisfied and said that our response to the most complex high-risk cases was increasingly sophisticated. It also identified that the awareness and response of all frontline officers to those lower-risk, everyday cases must improve as well. All victims of domestic abuse need to be confident that we’ll take them seriously and protect them.

“Our challenge is not an easy one. We grapple with a staggering level of acceptance of domestic abuse in our communities and a genuine reluctance from victims to come forward in the face of a very traditional justice system that doesn’t recognise the complex and very personal impact on those individuals who do come forward. We are also trying to improve our response in a time of continuing budget cuts and austerity.

“Police need to get the basics right - the first response to victims of abuse, the investigation and the subsequent action to protect victims from violence and abuse – but we cannot tackle domestic abuse alone. Since forces were last inspected by HMIC in 2004, much work has been done to develop a much tighter partnership response with domestic abuse charities and health, social care, probation, education and housing services. Specialist domestic abuse investigation officers work closely with victims’ advocates to support and guide victims through what can be a very difficult and traumatic journey. There are in depth conferences with partners to identify the victims at greatest risk and ensure seamless, comprehensive support.

“If we are going to reduce the number of people suffering and dying at the hands of someone close to them, all the agencies involved need to work together to provide the right support at an earlier stage to prevent abuse escalating.

“There are many dedicated officers working hard every day to make victims safer and secure justice for them. But we can and must get better still. Every victim should be safer after contacting the police.”

ACC Rolfe is working with the Crown Prosecution Service and national domestic abuse charities to understand and help to deliver a better response for victims from the time they come forward right through to court and beyond.

Every force has been issued with an easy to use evidence checklist and work is ongoing with representatives from each police region to build a victims’ toolkit for officers. The risk assessment process for domestic abuse is also under scrutiny and the College of Policing has launched new domestic abuse training material to embed awareness across their training schedule.

Activity

To arrange an interview with ACC Rolfe, contact Nicola Growcott in the ACPO Press Office on 020 7084 8946 or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

ACPO

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and partner agencies, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, co-ordinates the strategic policing response.

ACPO’s 311 members consist of 223 chief police officers from the home forces of assistant chief constable rank (commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, plus 60 senior police staff members from the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Non home forces such as British Transport Police have 25 chief police officer members and there are three members from the Service Police.

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk