Policies and incidents of domestic abuse recorded from April 2016 to March 2021
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.21.022349
I note you seek access to the following information:
1.The policies currently taught to PCs and officers around domestic abuse, including Domestic Abuse Stalking Harassment (DASH) risk assessment and the Risk Management model (RARA) as well as how level of risk is categorised.
2.The total number of Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Domestic Violence Protection Orders for each financial year from March 2016 to March 2021.
3. The total number of yearly domestic abuse related incidents and crimes reported from March 2016 to March 2021.
4. Any new policy updates in response to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 such as online working, virtual interventions that are helping tackle domestic abuse.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - The policies currently taught to PCs and officers around domestic abuse, including Domestic Abuse Stalking Harassment (DASH) risk assessment and the Risk Management model (RARA) as well as how level of risk is categorised.
Learning and Development have advised that there are several different categorisations of Risk – Either in terms of risk to Officers (Unknown Risk or High Risk) or Standard Medium and High for DASH.
RARA is not specific to DA (DASH is) RARA is a general risk reduction tool (Remove/Avoid/Reduce/Accept) – in DA cases there is a POSITIVE ACTION policy – therefore the last “Accept” is very rare in DA cases as most people live together or have access through child care/carer issues or arrangements.
Below are a list of lessons taught to officers.
| LESSON | LEARNING OUTCOMES |
| IPLDP0019 Initial Assessment for Victims | Explain the importance of carrying out an initial victim needs assessment and identify risk at an early stage. Recognise the need to apply the standards set within the codes of practice for victims of crime. (DASH template, Victims Code of Practice, THRIVE+) |
| IPLDP0077 Domestic Abuse | Identify and explain the key definitions, legislation and guidance associated with ‘public protection’ policing – domestic abuse / coercive control. Describe the impact of abuse on a victim. Identify and relate to the different types of potential abuse that may be evident at a domestic incident. Explain and apply risk assessment methods as part of the police response and victim protection policies. (DASH, VAF) |
| IPLDP0076 Stalking and Harassment Investigations |
Interpret and apply policy and guidance in response to stalking and harassment incidents. (DASH) |
Q2 - The total number of Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Domestic Violence Protection Orders for each financial year from March 2016 to March 2021.
Q3 - The total number of yearly domestic abuse related incidents and crimes reported from March 2016 to March 2021.
Please see attached excel spreadsheet.
This data is correct as of 17 December 2021 when it was extracted from the system.
Please ensure that the Notes Page is read in conjunction with the data in this report to ensure that it is interpreted correctly.
Q4 - Any new policy updates in response to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 such as online working, virtual interventions that are helping tackle domestic abuse.
The new MPS Domestic Abuse (DA) policy went live in September and follows the College of Policing APP. As elements of DA act come into force policy will be amended or adapted accordingly.
Due to the pandemic certain ways of working were amended within DA policy and guidance:
MPS guidance on Domestic Violence Protection Notices also known as Clare’s Law was amended to allow for virtual disclosures to ensure this safeguarding measure continued dispute lockdown restrictions. This guidance has remained in force as it has been recognised how successful it has been for both the victims and MPS.
Domestic Violence Protection Notices court process was amended to allow virtual
Court hearings. This has been very successful and continues to be used now for this orders.
Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference meetings were moved on line to ensure these safeguarding meetings could continue to take place. This move has been very well received and continues now as it allows engagement by a wider amount of agencies.