Domestic abuse officers in the MPS

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.024651

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. Does your organisation have specifically trained domestic abuse officers?
If so how does this training differ from standard training?

2. How many domestic abuse officers are there?

3. How can the public access these officers, is it automatic if there is a domestic abuse element?
If not kindly explain how the public can navigate this service.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - Does your organisation have specifically trained domestic abuse officers?

Police officers in the Community Safety Units (CSU’s) are specifically trained to deal with Domestic Abuse. These officers can be police constables, trainee detective constables or substantive detective constables, and they all attend a week long course in domestic abuse.

If so, how does this training differ from standard training?

All student police officers receive training on elements of domestic abuse. Frontline officers conduct the primary response and investigation at the time immediately following the incident call.

Officers in the Community Safety Unit (CSU), regardless of rank, receive additional training. This training comprises a week long course that focuses in depth on domestic abuse and the issues surrounding investigating and bringing such matters to court, as well as victim care. Other subjects covered include honour based abuse, forced marriage, hate crime and vulnerable adult abuse.

Q2 - How many domestic abuse officers are there?

In 2021 the MPS trained 6,700 frontline uniformed officers in Domestic Abuse Matters training.

In relation to specialist secondary investigators i.e. those who receive the initial report and investigate it and where possible take the matter to court, as of October 2021 there were 545 detective constables (DCs) and 180 police constables (PCs). In addition, there are a total of 132 Detective Sergeants (DS’s) working in the CSU.

Q3 - How can the public access these officers, is it automatic if there is a domestic abuse element? If not kindly explain how the public can navigate this service.

If a member of public reports a crime that falls under the ACPO definition for Domestic Abuse, frontline officers conduct the primary response and investigation at the time immediately following the incident call. The incident will subsequently be referred to the CSU for secondary investigation. However, depending on the risk level it may be investigated by another unit. For example Domestic Abuse Rape would be investigated by the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Unit.

Definition: The MPS / ACPO - Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults, aged 16* and over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender and sexuality.