In Focus – Domestic Abuse: Police are getting back to basics in tackling domestic abuse

Today, Assistant Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe reveals that her vision for building on the last decade’s progress on domestic abuse means “an absolute focus on the police’s core role – the first response to victims of abuse, the investigation and the subsequent action to protect victims from violence and abuse.”

As part of a national focus on domestic abuse from 4 – 8 March, forces across the country will be explaining what they do to protect victims of abuse and highlighting the support available from charities, local authorities, social services and probation services. The aim is to encourage more people living with domestic abuse to seek help.

Forces will be bringing the topic out from behind closed doors by tweeting about the domestic abuse-related incidents they deal with in 24 hours from 12pm on 6 March.

Some forces will be showing a film about that explores issues of control, manipulation and other complexities surrounding domestic abuse, others will have stalls at festivals or town centres to discuss the issue, many will be talking to the public through radio phone-ins and web-chats, and one force will be visiting schools to discuss healthy relationships with students.

Police forces will be talking about the programmes they run to target abusers, there’ll be chances to get insight into the work of specialist investigators and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs), and to see how a wide range of agencies share information and risk assessments through Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs).

ACC Rolfe took on the national policing lead for domestic abuse in 2013 and is using this week to talk about her priorities and plans for 2014 and beyond. She says,

“Improving our response to domestic abuse is a priority for the police.

“This week forces are doing a lot to raise awareness of domestic abuse as well as introducing new schemes that give the police additional powers to protect victims. We still have much to do in ensuring every police officer who responds to an incident understands the nature of abuse – the many forms it can take and how it can isolate the victim – and knows what to look for. We need every officer to use this knowledge to determine how to best protect the victim and progress a thorough investigation and prosecution without increasing their fear.”

“This is where we need to concentrate our efforts, with other agencies using their expertise to provide advice, counselling, help with drawing up safety plans or progressing housing applications”

The service victims of domestic abuse receive has greatly improved due to police investment in specialist officers, training call handlers to better assess risks and building working partnerships at local and national level with charities representing and supporting victims, and social care, health and probation services. The conviction rate for domestic violence has increased 15 per cent in seven years and the number of recorded domestic abuse incidents has also increased in recent years, which may be due to police forces improving their recording and increased public confidence in the police response. But many people still suffer in silence.

ACC Rolfe:

“Domestic abuse is a societal problem that the police cannot tackle alone.

“On average, police are only alerted to abuse after a victim has been assaulted or abused 35 times- when people are at crisis point and the situation is often violent and high risk.

“If we are going to reduce the number of people suffering and dying at the hands of someone close to them, the police, central and local government, social care providers, health institutions, probation services and the third sector need to work together to provide the right support at an earlier stage to prevent abuse escalating. We’ve got much better at working together but there is still much more for all of us to do.

“My plea to anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse, or who knows someone who is, is to seek help. Report it to the police and talk to the brilliant charities that can provide expert advice and support.”

Activity

National Policing Lead for Domestic Abuse Assistant Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe will have some availability for interviews over the week. To arrange an interview contact Nicola Growcott in the ACPO Press Office on 020 7084 8946 or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

For interviews, filming or recording with police forces please contact the ACPO Press Office who can advise on opportunities and provide contacts in forces.

Police forces will be managing their own activity and campaigns over the week so please contact force press offices directly for more details.

ACC Louisa Rolfe will be doing a Twitter Q&A on Wednesday 5 March 12-1.30pm.

Forces will be tweeting the domestic abuse related incidents they deal with in a 24 hour period from 12pm Thursday 6 March.

The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).

Additional comments

Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid said:

“We welcome the renewed focus from ACPO on getting the basics of domestic violence right, and on the importance of police and specialist domestic violence services working together to address domestic violence. As ACC Rolf says, it is vital that all police officers understand the different forms of violence and the impact of coercive control on victims and are able to respond appropriately, keeping the woman’s safety as their first priority and holding perpetrators to account. That’s why we call for specialist-led training on domestic violence for all police officers. It’s also crucial that specialist local domestic violence services have enough resources and support, to ensure that such services can work together with the police to ensure women are protected and supported from the moment they report domestic violence.”

Diana Barran, Chief Executive of Coordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse said:

"We absolutely support ACPO's focus on the need for the police to get the basics right. The police play a critical role in keeping victims safe, in partnership with other agencies. It takes so much courage for victims of domestic abuse to make that first call for help. A good police response can make all the difference to a vulnerable person who may be reaching out for support for the first time."

Tony Lloyd, Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester and Chairman of The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said:

“Tackling domestic abuse is a key priority for Police and Crime Commissioners. Domestic Abuse is unacceptable and encompasses a number of different crimes. Last year, the Office of National Statistics claim there were 2 million incidents of domestic violence.

“Police and Crime Commissioners understand the need to create an environment where domestic abuse is not tolerated and where our children and young people grow up to recognise the value of healthy relationships.

“Domestic abuse occurs in all walks of life and victims must be confident that their needs will be taken into account should they take the brave step to disclose information.

“Greater support for victims should be offered in the workplace. Police and Crime Commissioners are working with businesses to help employers spot the signs of domestic and sexual abuse amongst employees and offer support or a route to safety.

“Police and Crime Commissioners are also very supportive of their local refuges and other support services which continue to play an important role in supporting victims. I want to encourage greater co-ordination between support groups and the police to ensure that victims feel confident to speak out.”

College of Policing chief executive Chief Constable Alex Marshall said:

“There is an absolute focus on ensuring the police response to public protection issues, including domestic abuse, is victim focussed.

“Officers need to be armed with the best training and knowledge to identify the risks and harms and the College is working to develop standards and training to provide a consistent policing response.”

Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, said:

“It is vital that victims of domestic abuse have confidence that the criminal justice system will both protect and achieve justice for them. As a result of efforts by police and prosecutors to bring stronger evidential cases, the conviction rate for domestic violence currently stands at an all-time high. There is, however, still more to do and we are committed to continuing to work with the police to improve our joint response. I am working closely with ACC Rolfe to identify and spread good practice between police and prosecutors, and how we can use new technologies and other tools to improve the service we provide to victims of domestic violence .

“We want to encourage those who fear reporting their abuse to come forward but we know that the destructive effect of domestic violence can make this incredibly difficult for victims to make the decision to do so. That is why it is so important that victims are made aware of the support that police and prosecutors can provide in addition to voluntary sector services available. Victims need to know that their safety is of paramount importance throughout a prosecution case.”

Further information and sources

Domestic abuse conviction rates - http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/vawg_report_2013/

Number of recorded domestic abuse incidents - http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/focus-on-violent-crime-and-sexual-offences--2012-13/rpt-chapter-1---overview-of-violent-crime-and-sexual-offences.html

Increase in recorded sexual offences - http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-june-2013/info-sexual-offenses.html

In Focus

In Focus - Rape is part of a series focussing on issues most important to policing – led the Association of Chief Police Officers. The spotlight will be on a different issue for a week each month, including alcohol harm, domestic abuse and cyber crime.

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