Read the Commissioner’s new report Shifting the scales: Transforming the criminal justice response to domestic abuse. Full report here, Executive summary here.
- New report from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner uncovers criminal justice system unfit to hold abusers to account and safeguard domestic abuse victims.
- Alarming new figure finds just 4% of alleged domestic abuse perpetrators in the police workforce are dismissed.
- The Commissioner is calling on Government to make criminal justice agencies answerable for their performance through tougher scrutiny measures.
Domestic abuse victims are being failed by the criminal justice system at every stage – from police to probation – according to a report published today by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.
The report finds that victims routinely face a lack of specialist service referrals, poor enforcement of protective orders, court delays and early release of abusers as they seek safety and justice.
In an alarming new statistic, the Commissioner indicates police are failing to root out abusers within their own ranks – only 4% of alleged domestic abuse perpetrators in the police workforce are dismissed.
With prisons at breaking point, the criminal justice system must step up to tackle the scale of domestic abuse – especially when less than a fifth of victims report to police in the first place.
The Commissioner warns that these crises could steer the Government off course, and without addressing the criminal justice response to domestic abuse, the pledge of halving violence against women and girls within a decade will fall flat.
That’s why today, the Commissioner is unveiling her vision for a criminal justice system that is accountable, consistent and transparent – where domestic abuse victims get the right response no matter where they live or who they are.
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Nicole Jacobs, says, “As domestic abuse is recognised for the crime that it is, the needs of victims have been met with a criminal justice system ill-equipped to respond to the enormity of the challenge.
“Just 5% of police-recorded domestic abuse offences reach conviction; and less than a fifth of victims have the confidence to report to the police in the first place. Faith in the system is at an all-time low. That’s why now is the time to share my vision for reform.
“My report highlights examples of excellent practice – this must now become the standard across all criminal justice agencies, including our 43 police forces. Change is never easy, but the dedication and commitment of those already driving progress gives me great hope.
“Now is the time to act – decisively and collaboratively – so that all domestic abuse victims get the right response, every single time.”
Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, CEO at the College of Policing, says:
“I welcome the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s Criminal Justice Report, which reinforces the vital importance of tackling domestic abuse and the need for a coordinated approach in supporting the criminal justice system.
“I am pleased that the work we are doing at the College of Policing to better professionalise public protection, alongside the strengthening of policing vetting processes, align so well with the report’s asks, but I recognise that there is much more that we must – and will – do.
“We remain committed to driving further improvements on behalf of all victims and survivors.”
Anthony Rogers, HM Chief Inspector of the CPS Inspectorate, says:
“The prevalence of domestic abuse is increasing and is a crime that should not be tolerated. The system struggles to cope with demands placed upon it, and in previous inspections we have commented that specialist domestic abuse services – who play a vital role – are critically underfunded.
“The Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report sets out clear recommendations that if addressed will help turn what is a fragmented service into one that will help victims as they deal with the one of the most traumatic experiences that they will face.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Domestic Abuse Commissioner is the pre-eminent independent voice for victims and survivors of domestic abuse. The Commissioner uses statutory powers, which are set out in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, to raise public awareness and hold both agencies and government to account in tackling domestic abuse.
- This is the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s first major report on the criminal justice response to domestic abuse.
- As set out in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Government must respond to any report that the Commissioner lays before parliament within 56 days.
Outcomes of the Commissioner’s PPDA survey:
- Number of allegations recorded: Police forces provided counts of recorded allegations of police-perpetrated domestic abuse (PPDA) over the 12 months to 31 March 2024. Police Standards Departments (bar one police force who were unable to provide this information) recorded a total of:
- 1,294 allegations of PPDA; relating to
- 899 individuals within the police workforce (0.4% of workforce including all officers, staff, PCSOs and Specials)
- Outcomes:
- The vast majority of allegations resulted in ‘No case to answer’, ‘Suspension’ and ‘Learning outcomes’.
- Only 4% of individuals who had allegations of PPDA made against them were dismissed.
Domestic abuse data from incident to conviction, England and Wales, year ending March 2024 (ONS):
Please note, specific cases cannot be followed through the criminal justice system, so we cannot make direct comparisons between data from different stages. However, we can build up a picture of what has happened at each stage of the criminal justice system, from incident to conviction, by looking at all data available. Data in this bulletin refer to victims, offences, suspects, and offenders, depending on the data source. One person may be a victim of multiple offences.
- 2,307,000 = Estimated number of victims of domestic abuse, in the 12 months to the 31st March 2024, based on the Crime Survey of England and Wales – published by the Office for National Statistics.
- 851,062 = The number of domestic abuse flagged offences, recorded by the police in England and Wales, in the 12 months to the 31st March 2024, as collected by the Home Office.
- 72,641 = The number of suspects of domestic abuse related offences referred to the CPS by the police in the 12 months to the 31st March 2024, for charging decision.
- 49,046 = The number of suspects charged by the Crown Prosecution Services in Domestic Abuse Related cases, in the 12 months to the 31st March 2024.
- 38,776 = Offenders were convicted in the 12 months to 31st March 2024.