Agenda item

To consider the attached report from the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Panel was provided with a report of the PCC which provided details of TVP’s operational response to domestic abuse. This serious issue features in the priorities set out in the Police & Criminal Justice Plan and continues to be a Force priority.

The Panel was informed that in addition to the operational response set out in the report, the PCC provided support to victims of domestic abuse through Victims First and through supporting numerous organisations across the Thames Valley.

Reference was made to:-

·       Work with Thames Valley Partnership who have been involved in developing covert smart phone apps to help protect victims.

·       Funding Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDACs) in Buckinghamshire

and Milton Keynes. Discussions continue with the judiciary in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, where it was also hoped to be able to establish similar problem solving courts.

·       Support for DA victims would feature heavily on the agenda for the Violence against Women and Girls Partnership Board, which would be chaired by the PCC next month.

·       Work continued to try to find effective perpetrator programmes to tackle those who do commit abuse and reduce instances in the future.

·       The Domestic Abuse fast track programme, which was now back up and running in Aylesbury Crown Court, continued to demonstrate great benefit. The PCC reiterated that he would continue to lobby the CPS to provide this programme elsewhere in the Thames Valley.

Members’ Questions

(1)      In paragraph 10 of the PCC report and Civil Restraint and Protective Orders, there is no information on how successful these various orders are and whether they were being used as they were intended to be used?

[The PCC replied that often the issuing of these orders was seen as easier options rather than pursuing the criminal justice route. He commented that the use of Civil Restraint and Protective Orders were effective. They worked as a means of securing a future prosecution. They were successful and the PCC looked at comparisons on their usage with other forces to ensure that TVP made full use of them.]

(2)      Reference was made to hidden forms of domestic abuse which sometimes happen in certain “hard to reach” communities. The PCC was asked what training officers were given to deal with this to help victims.

[The PCC reported that this was a difficult and sensitive area to tackle. Reference was made to the issue being raised during a programme in Slough. The PCC said, that whilst respecting the sensitivity, crimes committed in all communities were treated as crimes and were treated in accordance with the law, and there were no exceptions.

Work took place with the Third sector (Charities), who worked with victims to enable them to have the confidence to come forward to the Police, to report domestic abuse.]

(3)      In areas such as Slough, there were up to 16 different communities which would require the Police to be sufficiently trained in the different customs and ways of these communities. However, a problem was some victims not receiving updates and feedback on crimes which have been committed. This would deter other victims of domestic abuse reporting such crimes. What can the PCC do to improve this situation?

[The PCC replied that the Police received a huge amount of training on domestic abuse and worked with all community groups to make it easier for victims to come forward. In relation to feedback to victims, he was keen to look at this with the new Assistant Chief Constable responsible for Contact Management.

The Panel was informed that once crimes were reported, the Police did pretty well with 80.6% victim satisfaction on all crimes reported. It was acknowledged that there needed to be greater confidence in reporting domestic abuse crimes.]

(4)         Could the PCC update the Panel on the progress on discussions with the CPS on the rolling out across the Thames Valley of the fast tracking of domestic abuse cases from Magistrates Court to Crown Court which was piloted in Aylesbury?    

[The PCC reported that there would be further meetings to try and push this forward. A meeting was to take place with the Chief Constable and the management team of the CPS. The PCC said he would keep the Panel updated.]

(5)      The HMICFRS 2019 inspection of TVP, highlighted that the force made less use of the domestic violence disclosure scheme (DVDS), than most other forces. Could the PCC provide an update on progress made in using DVDS which prevent further harm to victims?

[The PCC replied that this was a work in progress but he acknowledged that there was more to be done around this. Training internally was required as well as increased public awareness. A meeting was taking place in a couple of weeks, with the Force’s performance team. There was an opportunity to spread the use of DVDS with local authorities, where they could come in use for social workers etc.]

(6)      Reference was made to Clare’s law (para 9.2), and how this worked. Anybody living with a partner who had previous historical offences, should be informed as soon as possible. However, this only applied when they were not charged. Should this be used more widely?

[The PCC commented on the use of those powers when charges are not brought and said that there were still other tools available. The Home office was looking at introducing a register of domestic abuse offenders. The volumes involved would mean a register would operate differently to the sex offender’s register. This could end up overtaking Clare’s Law.]

(7)      The PCC was asked for his views on the current sentencing powers for domestic abuse and whether he believed these needed to be increased?

[The PCC replied that generally it was the use of those powers and making sure the powers were used to their full extent. For example, using Restraining Orders, as part of a sentence. There were a number domestic abuse cases where there was an argument for charging offenders in custody, which the CPS was reluctant to do.]

(8)      Could the PCC explain what was being done to educate the victims to come forward?

[The PCC referred to various publicity campaigns, which included the poster campaign in toilets and on social media. Sometimes victims did not recognise themselves as victims.]

(9)      Reference was made to the 55% of cases where prosecutions can take place without witnesses. However, there were a number of these where the prosecution time limits had expired. What can be done to improve this?

[The PCC reported that sadly, not all cases for prosecutions were successful. Prosecution time limits can expire for a number of reasons, one reason could be caused by an officer not getting a “sign off” from a supervisor. Sometimes mobile phone downloads took time. The PCC said it was important for evidence to be obtained early; early written statements and videos.]

(10)    The report shows a massive increase in the armoury of the Police for dealing with domestic abuse, however, there were a large number of cases which did not reach a conclusion. The statistics in the report do not look at the victim’s journey and there was not much emphasis on victims who have been the victim of multiple cases of domestic abuse. Should there be a holistic view on the number of occasions a victim reports domestic abuse?

[The PCC reported that there certainly was a focus on repeat victims of domestic abuse. The report was very much a Police focused report and the Panel was informed that there was a 75.4% conviction rate.

The Chief Constable commented that domestic abuse were complex crimes for the Police to investigate. They were difficult cases to prosecute without witnesses. The Community, friends and family of the victim all had a responsibility in terms of supporting the victim and giving them confidence to report such crimes. TVP Officers were trained to spot the signs of domestic abuse and the Police responded quickly to reports of domestic abuse and as part of a multi-agency response, prosecuted quickly.]

(11)    The PCC was asked about the work which took place at The Hub in Reading and whether more information could be provided at a future Panel meeting?

[The PCC replied that Victims First provided a number of specialist services which included help for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. It was agreed that an item on Victims First would be brought to a future Panel meeting.]

RESOLVED - That the report of the PCC be noted, together with the responses to the issues raised by Panel Members.