Question
Following the Performance Committee’s scrutiny of Measure 1.1.1 of the Policing Plan in relation to Fewer Repeat Victims of Crime, could the Chief Constable provide further information on:
- How many domestic violence or domestic abuse cases proceeded to a prosecution without the victim’s support? And
- How many domestic violence or domestic abuse cases did not proceed to a prosecution?
Answer
Domestic abuse remains a Strategic priority for the Police Service, and the focus on investigative standards and outcomes remains of paramount importance. As such the Police Service is in the latter stages of agreeing an updated Service Level Agreement with the Public Prosecution Service on Investigating, Management and Prosecution of Domestic Abuse offences. This will focus on the expectations and requirements of both organisations, whether there is or is not victim engagement in the process. The following highlights the areas that the Police Service are asking officers to focus on:
- Establishing why the victim does not wish the investigation to continue;
- Whether the victim consents to police accessing medical records (if relevant);
- Whether they are frightened of the offender and if so why;
- Whether they are frightened of any direct or indirect repercussions from pursuing the complaint;
- With whom they have discussed the case;
- Whether any civil proceedings have been instigated;
- The impact on their life and that of any children;
- Recommendation as to how the case should be dealt with; and
- Any other information that they may consider relevant regarding the victim’s or offender’s circumstances.
It is explained in the Service Level Agreement that this list is not exhaustive but is an opportunity to think about the key elements about why a victim may not wish to, or feel able to engage in a criminal justice process.
Unfortunately, at this time it is not possible to identify how many cases have been referred for prosecution without victim engagement, or indeed progressed with a prosecution decision issued by Public Prosecution Service. This is due to the difficulties in being able to extrapolate the data in an automated manner rather than via a manual trawl. When a victim reports a domestic abuse crime, they are assigned victim status against this investigation and remain as such throughout the entirety of the investigation, whether or not they engage. There are also difficulties in accessing this data because there will be those that will provide a statement initially and then disengage at a later time. Therefore to assess if a case file has a witness statement attached it is impossible without reviewing each and every statement whether this is a statement of complaint with or without engagement, or indeed a statement of withdrawal.
However, the concept of being evidence led continues to be supported and promoted within the Police Service, and we are seeking that the new Service Level Agreement will codify this position.
In respect of the outcome rate for domestic abuse cases, those that have either resulted in a charge, a non-court disposal outcome or a decision being issued to prosecute from a report file is currently at 28.7% for all domestic abuse offences in this current rolling 365 days
- Violence Against the person with injury 34.9% (down from 35.1%)
- Violence Against the person without injury 22.7% (down from 22.9%)
- Stalking and Harassment 26.5% (up from 19.8%)
- Malicious Communications 21.1% (up from 15.7%)
This is reviewed and discussed in a number of forums each month including the service-wide domestic abuse performance meeting chaired by Public Protection Branch.