Responding to today’s HMIC report on domestic abuse, Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, Matthew Ellis commented:
“This is a useful and informative document from HMIC. The areas examined show that whilst the police in Staffordshire are doing some good work there is room for improvement. My Office has been working closely with the Chief Constable and Force, as well as other public services, to ensure plans developed to improve the way domestic abuse is tackled are delivered.”
Services across Staffordshire, including the police, are in the midst of complex work to ensure public money is spent in a more coordinated rather than dislocated way. Achieving that will mean better service and support for victims of domestic abuse – according to Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis.
Deputy PCC, Sue Arnold, is overseeing review and reform of services on behalf of the Commissioner so that victims of domestic abuse are supported in ways that recognise their individual circumstances and needs better.
Mrs Arnold said: “The Commissioner’s Strategy, published in 2013, set out tackling domestic abuse as a priority for policing and other services. We’re determined to make sure that happens.
“Work is already underway through new investment and better systems that will see all victims of any crime in Staffordshire offered support. Victims of domestic abuse will receive better specialist support through victim support and other specialist domestic violence support providers than ever before which is exactly what they deserve.”
Mrs Arnold added: “Putting the victim first is our top priority. By April 2015 all victims will have the single gateway the Commissioner promised where one, joined-up agency, not the police, will take on the responsibility for providing a clearly mapped out support route for victims of crime.
“But the best support for victims is to stop the crime from happening in the first place or at least intervening earlier. For domestic abuse particularly that requires greater understanding of those at risk who are often known to public protection agencies already.
That means better joint working and specifically improvements to appropriate information sharing between services in order to help protect those who are vulnerable. The £1.8m investment in technology to drastically improve that announced by the Commissioner recently will provide the best chance anywhere in the country to intervene earlier.
“More work needs to be done to improve the way all victims of crime are kept properly informed about progress of investigations. But often it’s the trauma of the Courts process which needs better support, and particularly for those involved in a violent relationship, greater sensitivity”, said Mrs Arnold.
Mr Ellis concluded, “Victims of domestic abuse in Staffordshire are set to receive a better and more joined up service from criminal justice agencies and others. It involves investment and better joined up approaches between all agencies involved.
Putting the victim first in every aspect of what is done is at the heart of our strategy and I’m confident the improvements already underway will result in better more sensitive and more tailored services.”
