Deaths of women due to failures by Sussex Police.

The request was successful.

Dear Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner,

The death of Shania Grice is one of a series of deaths of women at the hands of their partners, or former partners.

As in the case of Shania Grice, prima facie Sussex Police failed to act appropriately to safeguard these women when the situation they were in was known to Police. It can be said to constitute gross and reckless negligence on the part of Sussex Police.

My Freedom of Information request is as follows:

Has Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (SPCC) discussed this situation with Sussex Police? Please provide minutes of any discussions that have taken place to date.

What steps has SPCC taken to address this situation and rectify the manner in which Sussex Police responds to these cases?

What plans has SPCC put in place to ensure that Sussex Police deal with violence, or threats of violence, towards women, so as to protect their safety at all times?

Has SPCC referred Sussex Police to the IPCC for investigation in view of their catalogue of failures which have resulted in the deaths of so many women? In the event no referral has been made is it proposed to do this, and , if so, when?

Has SPCC reviewed the conduct of Sussex Police in this context? Has she asked them to address what appears to be an attitude problem, that of misogyny?

For your information:

http://forourdaughters.co.uk/index.php/t...

Yours faithfully,

John Golding

Graham Kane, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner

6 Attachments

Dear Mr Golding
 
Thank you for your email to the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner, Katy
Bourne, who has asked me to respond on her behalf.
 
I can confirm that your request has been received and is currently being
processed under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. A
response will be provided to you within the statutory timescale of 20
working days from receipt of your request as defined by the Act, subject
to the information not being exempt.
 
Kind regards
 
Graham Kane
Head of Performance
Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner
01273 482351
[1][email address]
[2][IMG][3][IMG]  [4][IMG][5][IMG]  [6][IMG][7][IMG]   [8][IMG][9][IMG]
 
Keep up to date with the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner by signing up
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Please visit the website for information about the Police and Crime
Commissioner’s funding opportunities and how to apply:
[11]www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk/apply-for-funding/
 
There's a new place to go where you can find help & support if you've been
a victim of crime:[12][IMG][13][IMG]
 
Victims can also access Restorative Justice (RJ) via the Safe Space
website and can be assured the service in Sussex is accredited by the
Restorative Justice Council (RJC) quality mark.
 
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Graham Kane, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Golding
 
Further to your request for information under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000, set out below:
 
Has Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (SPCC) discussed this situation
with Sussex Police? Please provide minutes of any discussions that have
taken place to date.
 
What steps has SPCC taken to address this situation and rectify the manner
in which Sussex Police responds to these cases?
 
What plans has SPCC put in place to ensure that Sussex Police deal with
violence, or threats of violence, towards women, so as to protect their
safety at all times?
 
Has SPCC referred Sussex Police to the IPCC for investigation in view of
their catalogue of failures which have resulted in the deaths of so many
women? In the event no referral has been made is it proposed to do this,
and , if so, when?
 
Has SPCC reviewed the conduct of Sussex Police in this context? Has she
asked them to address what appears to be an attitude problem, that of
misogyny?
 
I can confirm that some of the information you requested is held by the
Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (OSPCC), under Section
1(1)(a) of the Act.
 
Has Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (SPCC) discussed this situation
with Sussex Police? Please provide minutes of any discussions that have
taken place to date.
 
The Commissioner discussed both the murder of Shana Grice and the content
of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s (HMIC’s) Police Efficiency
Effectiveness and Legitimacy (PEEL): Effectiveness report with the Chief
Constable and the Deputy Chief Constable at her webcast monthly
Performance & Accountability Meeting on 24 March 2017. This session is
archived and both the webcast and the minutes can be viewed on the
Commissioner’s website using the following link:
[1]www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/webcasting/
 
What steps has SPCC taken to address this situation and rectify the manner
in which Sussex Police responds to these cases?
 
The Commissioner has commissioned HMIC to undertake an inspection into the
Sussex Police response to stalking and harassment which will hopefully
take place later this year. 
 
What plans has SPCC put in place to ensure that Sussex Police deal with
violence, or threats of violence, towards women, so as to protect their
safety at all times?
 
At March’s PAM, the Chief Constable explained that the Force is determined
to make policing services more effective, against the challenge of
operating with new demands and a reducing budget. It was also emphasised
that Sussex Police has already taken significant steps to address the
areas HMIC identified for improvement.
 
Mrs Bourne is reassured that a Domestic Abuse Gold Group has been
established to look at and monitor progress against all of the
recommendations and areas for improvement set out within the report. The
Commissioner will continue to hold Sussex Police to account for
performance in this area and ensure that the HMIC recommendations are
implemented.
 
Has SPCC referred Sussex Police to the IPCC for investigation in view of
their catalogue of failures which have resulted in the deaths of so many
women? In the event no referral has been made is it proposed to do this,
and , if so, when?
 
The Deputy Chief Constable confirmed at March’s PAM that the Force has
thoroughly reviewed all aspects of how cases of stalking and harassment
are dealt with and, working with partners, Sussex Police has now taken on
the learning from the HMIC inspection in October 2016 and developed a more
robust approach. The Deputy Chief Constable also explained that Sussex
Police has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission
(IPCC) and is currently cooperating fully with them in respect of their
investigation. 
 
Has SPCC reviewed the conduct of Sussex Police in this context? Has she
asked them to address what appears to be an attitude problem, that of
misogyny?
 
The IPCC investigation is a criminal investigation and, as such, the
Commissioner or anyone else is prohibited from discussing the events and
circumstances around the murder of Shana Grice because the matter is now
sub judice (under judicial consideration) and any such discussion could
prejudice the outcome of the investigation.
 
As per legislative requirements, Brighton & Hove City Council has also
commissioned an independent Domestic Homicide Review and this process is
bound by the same confidentiality requirements. 
 
I hope this information is useful to you and thank you once again for
taking the time to contact the Commissioner.
 
If you are unhappy with the service that you have received in relation to
your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of this
decision, this should be made in writing to the Chief Executive &
Monitoring Officer. Further information can be found using the following
link: [2]www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk/contact-us/how-to-make-a-complaint/
 
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or review, you
may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a
decision. Further information can be found using the following link:
[3]https://ico.org.uk/Global/contact_us
 
Kind regards
 
Graham Kane
Head of Performance
Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner
01273 482351
[4][email address]
[5][IMG]    [6][IMG]    [7][IMG]     [8][IMG]
 
Keep up to date with the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner by signing up
to our email newsletter here: [9]www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk/spcc-newsletter/
 
Please visit the website for information about the Police and Crime
Commissioner’s funding opportunities and how to apply:
[10]www.sussex-pcc.gov.uk/apply-for-funding/
 
There's a new place to go where you can find help & support if you've been
a victim of crime: [11][IMG]
 
Victims can also access Restorative Justice (RJ) via the Safe Space
website and can be assured the service in Sussex is accredited by the
Restorative Justice Council (RJC) quality mark.
 
This message is intended for the use of the addressee only and may contain
confidential or privileged information. If you have received it in error
please notify the sender and destroy it. You may not use it or copy it to
anyone else.
E-mail is not a secure communications medium. Please be aware of this when
replying. All communications sent to or from the Sussex Police & Crime
Commissioner may be subject to recording and/or monitoring in accordance
with relevant legislation.
Although the Office of the Sussex Police Crime & Commissioner has taken
steps to ensure that this e-mail and any attachments are virus free, we
can take no responsibility if a virus is actually present and you are
advised to ensure that the appropriate checks are made.

show quoted sections