Prosecutors and police to transform outcomes for DA victims
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) have pledged to work more closely together to build strong cases to ensure justice for victims-survivors of domestic abuse. The Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan is expected to lead to a better understanding of their needs by focusing on patterns of behaviour to identify […]
Police leaders urge fresh approach to tackling VAWG ‘epidemic’
The National Police Chiefs’ Council is calling for a whole-system approach to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG) which, the NPCC argues, has grown to such a scale that it cannot be addressed through law enforcement alone. Research findings suggest one in 20 people are perpetrators, with the actual number thought to be significantly […]
Police force goes digital with DVPNs
West Yorkshire Police has introduced a pilot scheme for a fully digitalised version of Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs). The aim is to increase victim safety and protection, enhance perpetrator management, save costs and generate efficiency savings. “This solution will undoubtedly safeguard more victims, both locally and nationally, and deliver a faster and more reliable […]
Clare’s Law failing in Wiltshire led to people harmed
Wiltshire Police has completed a review into how it handled 3,582 Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme requests in the eight years and five months to August 2023. “We’ve identified 25 failures in our service. Of this, we know of two failures which have resulted in people being harmed,” the constabulary said. Four cases have been referred […]
Met Police commits to combatting VAWG
London’s police force has updated its Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) action plan now that VAWG is one of its strategic priorities. It is based on building trust and confidence; relentlessly pursuing perpetrators; and working to make spaces safer for women and girls. Among ten specific commitments is tackling police-perpetrated VAWG and improving the […]
Police and CPS to change way they deal with domestic abuse
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), College of Policing and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are to transform how they investigate, handle and prosecute domestic abuse cases to ensure victims are better supported, timeliness improved and more offenders are brought to justice. A national domestic abuse justice plan will be jointly drawn up with a focus […]
Police reporting DA survivors to immigration empowers abusers, says Jacobs
All 44 police forces across England and Wales, including British Transport Police, have shared information about victims of domestic abuse with immigration enforcement in the past three years, says domestic abuse commissioner Nicole Jacobs. “At the point when victims have come to the police for safety from abuse, they are met with what many fear […]
Police force reviews Clare’s Law applications
Wiltshire constabulary has commissioned an urgent review into how it handled Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme requests for eight years. A staff member is under Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into how they dealt with the Clare’s Law applications. The person is currently suspended from Wiltshire Police. “We know there have been some failures […]
Operation Encompass expands in Northern Ireland
A further 500 schools in the northern and western areas of Northern Ireland are joining Operation Encompass, bringing the total to 960. The programme involves police alerting a child’s school by 9am if they had attended a domestic abuse incident the day before where the youngster was present. That enables children to have emotional support […]
Report reveals extent of VAWG in police forces
A total of 1,177 cases against officers or staff members of police forces in England and Wales were flagged as relating to violence against women and girls (VAWG), a pioneering study has shown. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing analysed data from all forces, including British Transport Police, in the six […]
