SOUTH Yorkshire Police is doing better at addressing child sex abuse – but letting domestic violence victims down, according to inspectors.
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The force’s charge rate for domestic abuse recorded crimes for the 12 months to March 31 was 36%, compared with 27% for England and Wales. The panel will review our management of domestic violence perpetrators in recent cases and identify and action any learning.
“We have noted the learning points from the HMIC report and I am pleased with numerous positive aspects of it and where the need for improvement has been identified I am also satisfied we are addressing the issues and making good progress”, she says.
West Yorkshire Police focussed its campaign on the impact of domestic abuse on children who may be victims of witness abuse.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has today released a report which inspects how the force protects vulnerable people and supports victims.
Specialist officers from the force undertook a number of special operations targeting known offenders for domestic abuse alongside its campaign to encourage victims and witnesses of abuse to come forward.
It was criticised along with Staffordshire and Dyfed-Powys forces for a lack of preparedness in a report by the HMIC.
A force may be judged as requiring improvement by HMIC when it shows signs of shortcomings in certain areas, even if its performance in other areas is strong.
The training of police call-takers was praised and they were able to identify and respond to vulnerable callers.
The force was found to consider the vulnerability of all individuals who ask for its services, irrespective of their nature and request, and that the force has a well-developed and effective process of risk assessing vulnerability issues, which is monitored robustly ensuring long term support measures are put in place where necessary.
They said the current caseload within the teams who deal with rape and child abuse investigations is on occasions unacceptably high, and can become unmanageable, leading to delays in investigation.
“For example, it has invested in specialist teams to investigate domestic abuse and support investigations where the internet is used to coerce vulnerable people into sexual activity online”.
As a result 670 people were arrested between the 25 November and 10 December 2015 for domestic abuse offences – 536 people were arrested in the same period a year ago.
Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “Tackling domestic and sexual abuse is a priority across Avon and Somerset and I want victims to know when they approach the police or any other agency that they will be believed, understood and taken seriously”.
“We are not complacent and are continually looking at ways that we can improve services for the vulnerable”.
“It is clear however that we need to build upon what is already in place and continue to develop this good work to enhance our quality of service to victims”.
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HM Inspector of Constabulary Zoë Billingham, who led the inspection, said: “We know that the scale of change needed on domestic abuse will take time to bring about in full, and that there is still much more to be done”.
