Domestic Abuse - Coercive control

The request was successful.

Domestic Abuse Watch

Dear South Wales Police,

The Serious Crime Act 2015 received Royal Assent on 3 March 2015
and coercive control became a criminal offence as of 29 December
2015.

This request is being made to all 43 police forces to ascertain the
progress in raising awareness of the new law and any relevant
training.

Please provide the following information:-

a) Has any formal training been provided by the force and if so
when did this commence?

b) Was the training package prepared internally, or in partnership
with an outside organisation?

b) Who is receiving the training e.g. all officers and police staff
or specialist units dealing with domestic abuse.

c) What form does the training take e.g. classroom training/
computer based training etc?

d) Please provide a copy of the training material.

e) If a training package prepared by the college of policing is
being utilised, on what date did the force receive the training
package.

Thank you for your anticipated assistance in this matter.

Yours faithfully,

S. Russell

Domestic Abuse Watch

South Wales Police

Thank you for contacting the Freedom of Information Team (FOI) at South
Wales Police.  This message is to confirm that we have received your
correspondence. Please do not reply to this email.

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda’r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101… Gellir defnyddio’r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw’n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don’t require an emergency response?
Call 101… The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

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Domestic Abuse Watch

Dear South Wales Police,

By law You should have responded promptly and by 5 February 2016, may we have an update please.

Yours faithfully,

Domestic Abuse Watch

South Wales Police

Dear Sir or Madam,

I apologise for the delay in providing the response to your freedom of information request. I appreciate that your request is now overdue and we are endeavouring to get the information to you as soon as possible. Unfortunately there have been unforeseen difficulties in processing the request leading to the delay. We are aware the request has exceeded the 20 day deadline and are working to get the response to you as soon as possible.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information Team
Data Management Unit & Disclosure Unit/Rheoli Data ac Uned Datgelu
South Wales Police HQ/Pencadlys yr Heddlu
Cowbridge Road/Heol y Bont-Faen
Bridgend/Penybont ar Ogwr
CF31 3SU
DD Telephone/Telliffon 01656 303444
E-mail/E-bost: [email address]

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South Wales Police

2 Attachments

Dear Sir or Madam,
       
Your request for information has now been considered and our response is
attached.
                          
I trust that this information answers your request. Should you have any
queries and wish to contact us by e-mail, please do so using the mail box
[1][South Wales Police request email]. (Please do not reply directly to my own
e-mail address as this may result in a delay to your request).
       
South Wales Police provides you the right to request a re-examination of
your case under its review procedure (copy attached). If you decide to
request such a review and having followed the Forces full process you are
still dissatisfied, then you have the right to direct your comments to the
Information Commissioner who will give it consideration.
 
Kind regards,
 
 
Freedom of Information Team
Data Management Unit & Disclosure Unit/Rheoli Data ac Uned Datgelu
South Wales Police HQ/Pencadlys yr Heddlu
Cowbridge Road/Heol y Bont-Faen
Bridgend/Penybont ar Ogwr
CF31 3SU
DD Telephone/Telliffon 01656 303444
E-mail/E-bost: [2][email address]
 
 
 
 
 

Ydych chi angen siarad gyda’r heddlu ond nad oes angen ymateb brys arnoch?
Ffoniwch 101… Gellir defnyddio’r rhif i roi gwybod am achos nad yw’n un
brys i unrhyw heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser.

 

Do you need to speak to police but don’t require an emergency response?
Call 101… The number can be used to report a non-emergency to any force in
Wales and England.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

show quoted sections

J Roberts left an annotation ()

Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme Guidance Consultation
Government response - Last updated 20 February 2023

'Police training, resource and understanding of the DVDS' (p12)

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultati...

UIN 109812 - answered 20/12/22

'To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to ensure all police forces use Domestic Abuse Matters training programmes.' Rachael Maclean

https://questions-statements.parliament....

For police: Domestic Abuse Matters

'Over two million adults in the UK experience domestic abuse each year, and there is a growing body of evidence to show the strong co-relation between abuse and mental ill-health, insecure housing and financial position, and vulnerability to other crime types.'

https://safelives.org.uk/training/police

Domestic Abuse (DA) Matters change programme

'2.1 DA Matters is a programme of activity to help policing organisations to enhance the knowledge and skills of their workforce who act as ‘First Responders’ and those ‘Champions’ who advise or supervise them, in order to improve the police response to domestic abuse.'

https://www.college.police.uk/career-lea...

Domestic abusers face crackdown in raft of new measures
Published 20 February 2023

'The law will be changed so that the most dangerous domestic abusers will be watched more closely. For the first time, controlling or coercive behaviour will be put on a par with physical violence...

2. Piloting new civil orders: The Home Office and Ministry of Justice will pilot the new domestic abuse protection notices and orders in Gwent, Greater Manchester, and three London boroughs (Croydon, Bromley and Sutton), with the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police, and other criminal justice partners...'

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/domes...

UIN 142876

Sarah Dines answered a parliamentary question on 20/2/23 from Matt Vickers:

'Under changes to the pre-charge bail system, introduced in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, there is a new duty on police to seek the views of victims on pre-charge bail conditions to ensure that conditions will better protect all victims, including victims of domestic abuse.'

https://questions-statements.parliament....

ONS - 9/2/23 (year ending March 22)

'Of the 134 domestic homicides, 78 victims were killed by a partner or ex-partner (up from 69), 40 were killed by a parent, son or daughter (up from 28) and 16 were killed by another family member (down from 19).

Almost half (46%) of adult female homicide victims were killed in a domestic homicide (84). Of the 84 female victims, 81 were killed by a male suspect (Appendix table 32).'

https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/homicide...

Standards for domestic abuse perpetrator interventions (policy paper)
Updated 10 February 2023

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

The Gazette - 13/2/23

'Victims of domestic abuse are still being cross-examined by alleged perpetrators in the family courts despite the ‘appalling practice’ being banned by the Domestic Abuse Act, women’s charities and solicitors have told the lord chancellor.'

https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/domest...

Daily Telegraph (£)

Domestic abusers to be barred from early prison release under crackdown by minister

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02...

Edward Argar answered a parliametary question from Anneliese Dodds on 9/2/23 (UIN 137988):

'The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is using additional ringfenced funding to increase the number of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) and Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) it funds by 300 to over 1,000 by 2024/2025...'

https://questions-statements.parliament....

Substantial report by HMICFRS with many links - 17 September 2021:

'Police response to violence against women and girls: Final Inspection Report'

https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/...

'This report sets out findings from our inspection of how effectively the police respond to offences. These are violent and high-harm crimes that disproportionally affect women and girls, such as domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking and female genital mutilation.'

Violence against women and girls: research update November 2022 - ONS
Release date:25 November 2022

https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/violence...

Figures on domestic abuse from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, police recorded crime and a number of different organisations.

Published 25 November 2022

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics...

Domestic abuse in England and Wales - Data Tool

'An interactive excel-based data tool for domestic abuse statistics. It allows users to explore data for their police force area in more detail and compare with other areas.'

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationa...

Under a new scheme, survivors will be better protected from domestic abusers who attempt to continue their campaign of terror from behind bars.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thous...

The Guardian:

Home Office accused of breaking pledge to tackle violence against women

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022...

Serious Violence Duty:
Updated 23 December 2022

Clarity on the inclusion of domestic abuse and sexual offences under the Duty

'22% of the respondents felt that the position on domestic abuse and sexual violence should be clearer. 11% (of the 22%) felt that if the inclusion of domestic abuse and sexual violence is left as discretionary then it risks inconsistency and creates difficulties in monitoring and evaluating successes.'

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultati...

The Guardian:

'Exclusive: Andy Marsh, head of the College of Policing, calls for new code of practice to mend bond of trust with women'

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022...

Miss Sarah Dines answered this parliamentary question from Rachael MacLean:

UIN 136818, tabled on 31 January 2023

'To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2022 to Question 107146 on Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes, what progress her Department has made on delivery of the flexible fund in the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan.'
https://questions-statements.parliament....

J Roberts left an annotation ()

ONS 24/11/23:

Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview: November 2023

Figures on domestic abuse from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, police recorded crime and a number of different organisations.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/domestic...

Domestic Abuse Statistics Data Tool

In South Wales, 31,660 domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes were recorded in the year ending March 2023.

In South Wales, 16,730 domestic abuse-related crimes were recorded in the year ending March 2023.

16%* of all recorded crimes were classified as domestic-abuse related in South Wales in the year ending March 2023.

* 16% for England and Wales

Domestic abuse victim characteristics, England and Wales: year ending March 2023

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationa...

Stalking: findings from the Crime Survey for England and Wales
Release date 24 November 2023

Table 4a includes estimated numbers of victims of 'domestic', 'partner or ex partner', 'family member' and 'cyber' stalking.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationa...

J Roberts left an annotation ()

Domestic Abuse Statistics Data Tool

South Wales:

53% of domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes in South Wales were subsequently recorded as crimes in the year ending March 2023.

England:

61% of domestic abuse-related incidents and crimes in England were subsequently recorded as crimes in the year ending March 2023.

Other forces:

Gwent - 37%.....Met - 39%.....Dorset - 45%.....Wiltshire - 51%.....Dyfed Powys - 54%.....Derbyshire - 55%.....Thames Valley - 55%.....Bedfordshire - 56%.....Northumbria - 57%.....Suffolk - 58%.....West Mercia - 58%.....Warwickshire - 59%.....Hertfordshire - 60%.....

Kent - 63%.....Norfolk - 63%.....Sussex - 63%.....Durham - 64%.....Cambridgeshire - 64%.....Avon and Somerset - 65%.....Cumbria - 65%.....Avon and Somerset - 65%.....Lancashire - 65%.....Northamptonshire - 66%.....Humberside - 67%.....Hampshire - 68%.....West Midlands - 68%.....North Yorkshire - 69%.....Leicestershire - 70%.....North Wales - 70%.....Gloucestershire - 71%.....Staffordshire - 71%.....Essex - 74%.....Nottinghamshire - 76%.....Greater Manchester - 78%.....Cheshire - 79%.....Surrey - 82%.....Merseyside - 85%.....Devon and Cornwall - N/A.....City of London - N/A

CPS 8/12/23:

'Police chiefs, the College of Policing and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are today announcing a joint commitment to transforming how they investigate, handle and prosecute domestic abuse to ensure victims are better supported, timeliness is improved, and more offenders are brought to justice.'

https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/national...

J Roberts left an annotation ()

Domestic Abuse Bill 2020: factsheets

Published 3 March 2020

Last updated 3 January 2024

Some of the factsheets include:

Statutory definition of domestic abuse factsheet.....new civil Domestic Abuse Protection Notice (DAPN)..... new civil Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO).....Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme factsheet.....Cross-examination in family proceedings factsheet.....Mandatory polygraph tests factsheet.....Amendment to the controlling or coercive behaviour offence.....Strangulation and suffocation.....Threats to disclose private sexual photographs and films

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...

Violence against women and girls: research update November 2023
29 November 2023

An update of our current and future research and publications relating to violence against women and girls (VAWG).

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationa...