Praise for Northumbria following HMICFRS domestic abuse report
28th February 2019
A national report has highlighted Northumbria as an area of best practice for its investigative work and collaborative approach in supporting victims of domestic abuse – findings welcomed by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’ (HMICFRS) report on domestic abuse found that nationally there has been improvements in how the police identify, respond and support victims.
Part of the report, published on Wednesday, recognises the good work taking place in Northumbria – namely the development of multi-agency safeguarding hubs (MASHs) across all six local authority areas – to work in partnership with other organisations to better protect victims of domestic abuse. This is also linked to Northumbria’s process for identifying the highest-risk serial perpetrators.
The report also points to how the Force has set up a working group to look into matters concerning victims choosing ‘no further action’ as part of coercive control investigations.
Dame Vera Baird said: “This report highlights some positive steps that are being made in how domestic abuse call-outs are responded to in our area. I’m pleased that we are leading the way in terms of our collaborative and investigative work – however, the work doesn’t stop there. Northumbria Police needs to keep building on this as part of its commitment to providing victims the very best support and protection they can.”
Northumbria Police Chief Constable Winton Keenen reiterated the Force’s committed to supporting victims of domestic abuse and bringing perpetrators to justice.
“I have been extremely clear that our number one priority as a Force is to protect those in our communities who are vulnerable and that includes victims of domestic abuse,” he said. “We have invested both in technology and training to improve how we support and protect victims and also bring perpetrators to justice. We are fully committed to ensuring this improvement continues and I would urge anyone who is a victim of this sort of abhorrent abuse to come forward. We are here for you and we want to give you a voice.”
ENDS
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