HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham, who led the inspection, said when launching the progress report:
“When we first inspected the police response to domestic abuse, we found most forces demonstrated a startling lack of awareness of domestic abuse and inconsistent or poor practice. Our report in 2014 was intended to be a wake-up call, and I am pleased to say that the police service now offers a better service to victims of domestic abuse.”
She added “We know that the scale of change needed on domestic abuse will take time to bring about in full, and that there is still much more to be done. We’re particularly concerned that the workload in many specialist investigation units is becoming overwhelming, which is slowing and hindering some investigations. Forces should also do more to understand the nature and scale of domestic abuse in their area, and ensure that there is effective and consistent operational practice everywhere. But this does not diminish the value of the often excellent work being completed by a large number of police leaders, police officers and staff supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
Domestic abuse victims (and their children) are among the most vulnerable in society; and domestic abuse accounts for 10 percent of all recorded crime. Moreover, since the publication of Everyone’s Business, there has been a 31 percent increase in domestic-abuse related recorded crime. This is, in part, due to forces getting better at identifying and recording domestic abuse, and also may show victims are now more confident in coming forward.”
However, HMIC found there are still a number of areas for improvement in the way the police respond to, support and protect domestic abuse victims. In particular, forces need to:
- take immediate steps to respond to the significant workloads in specialist public protection teams;
- train all police officers and staff to understand and identify the complex dynamics of abuse and coercive control;
- improve their understanding of the nature and scale of domestic abuse across their areas;
- ensure the quality of service offered to victims assessed as standard and medium risk meets that provided to victims assessed as high risk; and
- make sure that partnership working arrangements (which are crucial to providing coherent support) are effective, and evaluate how far they result in positive outcomes for victims.
John Campion, Conservative Candidate for West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed the progress report and increased focus on tackling domestic violence.
John said, “I welcome the report and the progress shown in it. Locally, West Mercia’s Police & Crime Commissioner and his deputy need to do more to hold West Mercia to account, to ensure the questions and recommendations in the report are being addressed. I am disappointed that the Commissioners response doesn’t include a commitment that he will use the findings in the report to improve the service victims get in West Mercia.”
John added, “My priority if elected will be to not only tackle the causes of crimes such as domestic violence, but also when it does happen that the victims are not only taken seriously but also supported to be kept safe and to get justice. I will hold the Police to account and effectively challenge the status quo and poor performance.”
Find the full HMIC report here; www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/publications/increasingly-everyones-business-a-progress-report-on-the-police-response-to-domestic-abuse/
Statement from West Mercia PCC in response here www.westmercia-pcc.gov.uk/News-and-Events/News-Archive/2015/PCC-Resonse-HMIC-Vulnerability-Report.aspx
