The College of Policing, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) recently concluded an investigation spurred by a super-complaint from the Center for Women’s Justice (CWJ).
The inquiry examined how police forces handle domestic abuse cases involving their own officers, uncovering significant shortcomings in addressing the needs of victims when the alleged abuser is a police employee.
Some forces failed to recognize the reporting challenges faced by victims who also work within the police system.
Challenges in Domestic Abuse Investigations
The investigation highlighted that misconduct inquiries are not consistently occurring or being conducted properly. Allegations against officers and staff are expected to be reviewed by professional standards departments, yet chief constables have been urged to prioritize these issues immediately.
While these investigations did not generally differ in quality compared to other domestic abuse cases, there is a broader need for improvement in how police handle such allegations overall.
Ensuring Investigation Impartiality
The review analyzed cases submitted by the CWJ and 56 incidents involving police personnel as suspects
The review analyzed cases submitted by the CWJ and 56 incidents involving police personnel as suspects. Additionally, 149 domestic abuse allegations from 2018 across 15 police forces were scrutinized, revealing that only 9% resulted in criminal charges.
Safeguards intended to ensure impartiality during investigations and decision-making processes were found lacking when the suspect was a police officer.
Recommendations for Improvement
To enhance support for victims and the quality of investigations, the report features several recommendations: chief constables should audit all current allegations and recent case closures, police forces need protocols to ensure unbiased investigations, even transferring cases if necessary, and national directives should address the unique difficulties of police-related domestic abuse claims.
The IOPC plans to enhance its oversight of these allegations, emphasizing it as part of their broader focus on violence against women and girls.
Enhancing Police Response
Dave Tucker, Head of Crime and Criminal Justice at the College of Policing, emphasized the significance of this comprehensive review and its findings. "Our recommendations will significantly improve the police response to these allegations, so that victims of domestic abuse know they will be properly protected, receive a high standard of care and a good investigation – regardless of who the suspect is," he stated.
He also expressed optimism about changes already being implemented by various forces.
Addressing Institutional Risks
Kathie Cashell hopes victims will feel reassured by the investigation's outcomes, which place a spotlight
Kathie Cashell, IOPC Director for Strategy and Impact, hopes victims will feel reassured by the investigation's outcomes, which place a spotlight on police-perpetrated domestic abuse.
She affirmed that the IOPC will ensure police forces adhere to legislative requirements, emphasizing accountability in handling such cases.
"We urge all forces to use the findings and recommendations in this report to do more to ensure they can demonstrate these serious allegations are being handled robustly, and without fear or favor," stated Kathie Cashell.
Protecting Public Trust
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Roy Wilsher, highlighted the gravity of domestic abuse by police personnel, emphasizing the need for transparent investigations.
"While many forces are already taking steps to do this and most police officers act with the utmost integrity, we found that not all forces are treating these cases with the gravity they deserve, and that is not good enough," remarked Roy Wilsher.
Roy Wilsher further added that the recommendations and actions from the report aim to bolster existing reforms within police forces, contributing to a robust system that protects victims and treats allegations with the seriousness they warrant as both criminal and disciplinary matters.
The College of Policing, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service (HMICFRS) and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated a super-complaint submitted by the Center for Women’s Justice (CWJ).
The investigation found some forces are not doing enough to take account of the specific needs of domestic abuse victims when the suspect works for the police nor are they consistently going the extra mile to show that they understand the importance of protecting and demonstrating the integrity of the police response. Some did not recognize the unique barriers to reporting if the victim also works for the police.
Other domestic abuse investigations
Misconduct investigations are not always being carried out when they should be or conducted appropriately. Allegations of domestic abuse offenses against police officers and staff should be reviewed and usually investigated by force professional standards departments. They have recommended chief constables address this immediately.
They did not find evidence that these investigations were conducted less well than other domestic abuse investigations, with the charge rate found to be similar, although this is in the context of a police response to domestic abuse, which still needs to improve across the board.
Impartiality of investigations and decisions
The investigation examined case studies submitted by the CWJ, as well as 56 domestic abuse cases where police officers and staff were suspects. The outcome data for 149 domestic abuse allegations from 2018, involving suspects from 15 police forces, was also investigated. Fourteen of these allegations, 9%, resulted in a criminal charge.
But, it was found that safeguards to ensure and demonstrate the impartiality of investigations and decisions when the suspect worked for the police were not consistently applied.
Improve the quality of investigations
The investigation identified several recommendations and actions to better protect and support victims and to improve the quality of investigations, including:
- Chief constables should audit all live allegations of domestic abuse against officers and staff and investigations closed within the last year.
- Police forces should have plans in place to ensure cases of police perpetrated domestic abuse are investigated by someone with no prior connection to any of those involved in the allegations, including consideration of transferring cases to another force where necessary.
- Police and Crime Commissioners, the Ministry of Justice and chief constables should ensure that their provision of domestic abuse support services and guidance can meet the specific needs of victims of police perpetrated domestic abuse.
- National guidance to be clearer on the unique risks and challenges of domestic abuse allegations against staff.
The IOPC will now carry out a targeted program of oversight work into the force handling of these cases. It will make this a main focus of its wider work on violence against women and girls.
Improve the police response to these allegations
Dave Tucker, Head of Crime and Criminal Justice at the College of Policing, said: “This is the most thorough review ever undertaken of how police respond to domestic abuse cases involving their own staff and during our investigation we heard harrowing stories from victims about the abuse they had experienced, and the further harm caused to them by a poor response from policing."
“Our recommendations will significantly improve the police response to these allegations, so that victims of domestic abuse know they will be properly protected, receive a high standard of care and a good investigation – regardless of who the suspect is. I am encouraged to see many forces already taking steps to address the issues we found."
“During the investigation, we also found examples of dedicated and committed police officers working incredibly hard to get victims justice. To support them as best as possible the College of Policing will review and improve our guidance and training, so it considers the additional risks when a suspect is part of the police workforce.”
Use the findings and recommendations in this report
Kathie Cashell, IOPC Director for Strategy and Impact, said: “We hope that victims of domestic abuse will feel reassured that, as a result of this super-complaint investigation, a spotlight has been shone on the police response to police perpetrated domestic abuse, which will now be subject to greater scrutiny."
“The IOPC will be carrying out a program of work to ensure police forces understand their obligations to handle these matters in line with police complaints legislation, and that, when appropriate, police officers and staff are held to account through the disciplinary system."
“We are clear in our report that we found examples of good practice, and our findings will not necessarily be reflective of police forces’ handling of every allegation. However, we urge all forces to use the findings and recommendations in this report to do more to ensure they can demonstrate these serious allegations are being handled robustly, and without fear or favor.”
Risk to integrity and public trust
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Roy Wilsher said: “Domestic abuse is a terrible crime and it’s natural that when such abuse is perpetrated by police officers and staff, the public want to know that cases are being investigated thoroughly."
"While many forces are already taking steps to do this and most police officers act with the utmost integrity, we found that not all forces are treating these cases with the gravity they deserve, and that is not good enough."
“This is an issue that has been overlooked nationally in the past. I hope our recommendations today will encourage forces to recognize the risk to integrity and public trust that these cases can cause, and act now to ensure they are providing the right support to victims.“
Recommendations and actions
Wilsher added: "The recommendations and actions will build on changes already being made by police forces, support a more effective system that protects victims of domestic abuse perpetrated by police officers and helps to ensure that allegations are dealt with appropriately as criminal and disciplinary matters.”
The recommendations and actions will build on changes already being made by police forces, support a more effective system that protects victims of domestic abuse perpetrated by police officers and helps to ensure that allegations are dealt with appropriately as criminal and disciplinary matters.
