Essex Police criticised for domestic abuse response

HMIC “is concerned about the lack of understanding and awareness of the complexities of domestic abuse demonstrated by many staff and officers” in Essex Police.

In a report – Everyone’s business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse – HMIC said there is a “negative attitude displayed by some frontline staff in relation to the subject.” It added: “This is something the force needs to address but it is aware and working to improve this.”

In some praise, it stated: “Despite this, staff understand their responsibilities to reduce the risk to victims and are aware of the specific risks where children are present.”

However it added: “Standards of initial investigation are inconsistent and supervision of investigations needs to be improved.”

In Essex, domestic abuse accounts for 7% of calls to the police. Of these calls, 48% were from repeat victims. For every 100 domestic abuse crimes recorded, there were 83 arrests in Essex. For most forces the number is between 45 and 90.

Essex recorded 8,862 domestic abuse related crimes for the 12 months to the end of August 2013. Of these crimes, 34% resulted in a charge, 9% resulted in a caution and, 1% had an out of court disposal, for example, a fixed penalty notice for disorderly conduct.

HMIC stated: “More work is needed to improve Essex Police’s organisational effectiveness in keeping victims of domestic abuse safe.”

The report makes 10 recommendations for Essex Police including that the force should “review urgently” the role played by the domestic abuse intelligence team (DAIT) in assessing whether an incident should be classified as domestic abuse.

Another recommendation is that the force should consider scheduling a new programme of face-to-face training for operational staff on domestic abuse, with a specific focus on recent changes to the definition and relevant legislation.

This training, states HMIC should also address the attitudes of staff towards domestic abuse through developing a greater awareness of how domestic abuse can manifest itself and the impact it can have on victims.

You can see all 10 recommendations and the full report here

http://www.hmic.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/essex-approach-to-tackling-domestic-abuse.pdf

Paul Ford, lead on domestic violence for the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “The HMIC report states that every 30 seconds officers are contacted by a victim of or witness to domestic violence and that eight per cent of all recorded crime is related to domestic violence. It is vital that forces ensure their frontline supervisors have the appropriate training and support to help them manage this destructive crime.”

ACPO 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.”

ACPO also tweeted “thanks to the police officers commended for their ‘tireless work’ to protect victims of domestic abuse.”