Agenda item

1.    This report was requested by the Panel. The Commissioner explained that during November 2013 HMIC  carried out a national inspection mandated by the Home Secretary.  Domestic Abuse counted for one third of all violent crime.  HMIC reported that Kent had a number of good areas of practice. For instance, Kent Police took a proactive approach to dealing with Domestic Abuse and for every 100 Domestic Abuse crimes recorded in Kent there were 89 arrests, other forces varied between 45 – 90 arrests.  HMIC’s recommendations were set out within the report and there had been significant progress with the ‘recommendations action plan’.  A joint campaign on Domestic Abuse was being funded by the Commissioner and would begin just before the World Cup. The Community Safety Partnerships were also delivering a number of initiatives at the same time.  A project was also being developed to support the children affected by Domestic Abuse.  Domestic Abuse was also high on the agenda of the Kent Community Safety Partnership.  

2.    With regard to digital cameras, they had been purchased and used for those officers likely to end up dealing with domestic abuse incidents. The Commissioner’s Chief of Staff explained that the force also had a joint bid to the Government’s innovation fund with Essex for body worn cameras and supporting infrastructure. The initial pilot would involve 400 front line officers being issued with body worn cameras. A further bid to extend the pilot to the entire workforce had been submitted. It was hoped that the results of the second bid to the innovation fund would be back by the end of June. 

3.    A Member asked about the numbers of referrals of children over a period of two years, on page 31 of the report, the Commissioner would report back on the figures. Medway had a pilot with the force to ensure that the schools were made aware of any child subject to a domestic abuse incident.  This would be investigated further; the safeguarding boards could also be used.  

4.    The Domestic Abuse campaign was being funded by the Commissioner so it was yet to be determined whether it was a long term campaign 

5.    In response to a question about the follow up process for the arrests associated with Domestic Abuse incidents, a lot of work had been done around training for all officers and an awareness of the importance of contact with victims.  The Commissioner explained that there was a comprehensive training package with the Home Secretary personally monitoring Domestic Abuse improvements.  In addition there was a further HMIC inspection coming up.In relation to the training for officers to deal with domestic abuse incidents, the Commissioner was asked how she would know that the training had been effective. A public People board had been set up, which had a remit to look at a number of aspects of workforce related matters – one of which would include training. The Commissioner envisaged this may be the appropriate forum to monitor the effectiveness of DA training.   

6.    Members were aware that the Met Police used body worn cameras in domestic abuse incidents to ensure that prosecutions were more likely to be successful with the evidence from the camera.  There had been a similar discussion at the Governance Board but there were issues with the storing of electronic information, this was being investigated further (refer to paragraph 2 above)

7.    In response to a question about the victims of domestic abuse, the Commissioner explained that an e-package had been developed, all new recruits received specific training and victims were encouraged to come and speak to the force about their experiences. 

8.    A Member raised the importance of ‘hidden’ domestic abuse, through financial abuse and the impacts on different communities and cultures.  The Commissioner had recently attended a Domestic Abuse event for women, the campaign would be targeted at different groups of people, to reach as wide an audience as possible. 

9.    It was important to ensure that the police attended crimes as quickly as possible and that the cameras did not delay officers - the Commissioner confirmed that it was a rolling programme and was a start. 

10.In response to a question the Commissioner explained that the HMIC report stated that Kent was very good at dealing with the critical risks, the recommendations focussed on dealing with medium and standard risks and where these could be managed better. 

RESOLVED that the Police and Crime Panel note the Commissioner’s report on Domestic Abuse.