The Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office today welcomed a national watchdog’s report showing improved performance by police in handling domestic abuse cases and supporting victims.
Domestic Abuse is a key priority for Staffordshire’s Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis and his deputy, Sue Arnold leads specifically on driving this important work forward.
Responding to an update from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), Sue said much had been accomplished in Staffordshire to improve services for victims and perpetrators and the Force has made real progress in identifying and responding to domestic abuse incidents.
‘It’s encouraging to see Forces across England and Wales are making real progress in this area, which can devastate lives of all family members. In Staffordshire, there is a lot of good news to report, but we’re not complacent and know there is still a way to go.
‘But I congratulate the Force and other partners for the higher reporting now seen in the county and city of domestic abuse – this shows greater awareness of the issue and importantly greater confidence by victims to report it to police, which is a big step.’
The Commissioner’s office recently led on work to commission domestic abuse services for victims and perpetrators across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent in conjunction with Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which ensures consistency in support for all those affected no matter where they live, through the New Era service.
There are free of charge services for victim and perpetrators, children and young people, businesses and communities
Staffordshire Police was highlighted in the HMICFRS report for its use of a tool called the domestic incident abuse log, where it was noted there was a process for officers to refer incidents for wider partnership intervention.
The Force continues to develop its response to domestic abuse through multi agency interventions to support vulnerable victims and their families.
This was the HMICFRS’s fourth report on the police response to domestic abuse and said it found the continued improvement by the majority of Forces even more impressive given the increases seen in recorded levels of domestic abuse.
Note to editors:
- The report can be found at: www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/publications/the-police-response-to-domestic-abuse-an-update-report
- Details of New Era’s free of charge services for victims, perpetrators, children and young people, businesses and communities are available through www.new-era.uk or by telephoning 0300 303 3778 (support for victims) or 01785 601690 (services for perpetrators).
