Scottish police can improve response to DA, says inspector
Though Police Scotland has done much to improve the way it handles domestic abuse cases, more can be done to improve its services, according to the Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Craig Naylor. The force is committed to making improvements. Police Scotland has a proactive approach to tackling the most persistent offenders, comprehensive training has been […]
Calls to police and DVPNs increase in Manchester
The number of domestic abuse reports to police, arrests and Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPNs) issued in Greater Manchester have gone up. “In the last 12 months, there has been a 12% increase in domestic abuse calls that required a grade 1 response, meaning that GMP officers have attended around 23,000 domestic abuse incidents where […]
Cheshire police launch scheme to prevent abusers re-offending
A programme has been introduced in custody suites at Chester, Middlewich and Runcorn to enable those committing domestic abuse-related offences to stop offending. Perpetrators taken into custody will be offered access to support services and a behavioural change programme on their release. Participation is voluntary. Cheshire Police has launched the scheme with My CWA which […]
Taskforce formed to prevent domestic murders in Scotland
A new multi-agency grouping will develop a new approach in Scotland to help reduce homicides where domestic abuse is suspected. Goals include ensuring lessons are learned from each case and, as justice secretary Keith Brown highlighted, giving a voice to relatives of victims. Approaches in other jurisdictions will be examined so the taskforce can draw […]
Met probes DA claims against its own
The Metropolitan Police is currently investigating 625 allegations of domestic or sexual abuse against officers and staff. The force set up the Domestic and Sexual Offences Unit (Daso) in January as part of an effort to rebuild trust in London’s police service following a series of scandals. A “significant number” of cases under investigation involve […]
Rise in DA investigations on London police officers
Currently 173 serving Metropolitan police officers have accusations of domestic abuse against them under investigation, according to Greater London Authority figures. In February, 147 officers had faced allegations of domestic violence against their spouses or partners in the last two years, with 8% of them charged with a crime, the London’s Evening Standard newspaper reported. […]
Police DA perpetrators face sack
Officers who commit violence against women and girls should expect to be dismissed and barred from re-joining the police, says College of Policing chief executive Andy Marsh. “There is no place in policing for anyone who behaves in a way that damages the public’s trust in us to keep them safe,” he added. He was […]
Huge gaps in police DA specialist training
More than ten million people were living in areas at the end of last year where no police officers had received special guidance on handling domestic abuse. An official report published in 2014 had highlighted the issue, leading to SafeLives creating the DA Matters programme. Data released under freedom of information laws revealed officers in […]
Police told to improve response to DA claims against ‘their own’
Three inspectorates have made recommendations on how police can improve the quality of investigations into domestic abuse allegedly committed by police officers or staff. Action also needs to be taken to better protect and support victims, according to the College of Policing, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). […]
Service police forces falling short in DA
Police forces in all three branches of the UK’s armed services need to become better in handling domestic abuse cases, says the government watchdog which oversees them. Victims in the army, navy and air force told investigators from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary they did not feel properly supported, with many feeling ostracised from their […]
