HMIC report into Essex Police's approach to tackling domestic abuse

*Executive Summary *

Domestic abuse is a priority for EssexPolice which is recognised by staff across the force. There are risks that somevictims of domestic abuse may not be getting the effective response or thequality of service they need from the police.

Essex Police now has a different approachto tackling domestic abuse than it did a year ago. Since HMIC’s inspection inMarch 2013, the force has taken a number of positive steps to improve theservice provided to victims of domestic abuse.

Rightly the force has prioritised improvingthe service it provides victims facing the highest risk of serious harm. It nowneeds to determine how victims assessed as medium and standard risk can beprovided with an improved service.

The chief constable has demonstratedeffective and visible leadership in taking personal oversight of the improvementactivity, strongly supported by the police and crime commissioner. There has beensignificant improvement in the joint work with partners.

Some areas that have been identified as inneed of improvement, are understandably work in progress. However,there are risks that some victims of domestic abuse may still not be getting theeffective response or quality of service they need from the police.

A year after HMIC’s original inspectionsome areas of concern identified then, remain now. The service provided to somevictims remains fragmented and patchy. The force is committed toestablishing a domestic abuse crime unit that will manage both investigations of domesticabuse related crimes, and provide support to victims. However this is takingsome time to put in place.

Read the full report here: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/essex-approach-to-tackling-domestic-abuse.pdf