Domestic abuse is core business for the criminal justice system
The police and probation service are essential to keeping victims safe, holding perpetrators to account and preventing further harm.
The police receive a call about domestic abuse every 30 seconds. For many victims and survivors, the police are one of the first services they turn to for help, making that response critical to improving safety, identifying risk and preventing further abuse.
The Probation Service also plays a vital role in managing domestic abuse perpetrators in the community. With increasing pressures on the prison system and more offenders being managed in the community, effective risk management has never been more important. Recent figures suggest around 30% of people on probation are current or former perpetrators of domestic abuse, although the true figure is likely to be higher.
The criminal justice system should provide protection, support and a route to justice.
But too often the response to domestic abuse is fragmented, with agencies working in silos and important information not being shared effectively. This can lead to risks being missed, safeguarding opportunities being lost and victims being left without the protection they need.
Victims and survivors should not face a postcode lottery when they seek help.
Creating a more effective response requires strong leadership, greater accountability and better partnership working between criminal justice agencies, wider statutory partners, and specialist domestic abuse services. It also requires a shared commitment to putting victim safety at the centre of decision-making and ensuring perpetrators are held accountable for the harm they cause.
What the Domestic Abuse Commissioner is calling for
Within policing the Commissioner wants to see:
- Victims and survivors receiving a safe, timely and trauma-informed response
- Police officers equipped with the knowledge, skills and support they need to recognise and respond effectively to domestic abuse
- Good practice in tackling domestic abuse shared and embedded across forces
- Agencies working together to identify and manage risk
- Victims feeling confident that they will be believed, supported and protected
Within probation the Commissioner wants to see:
- Domestic abuse recognised and addressed throughout probation practice
- Victim safety sitting at the centre of decision-making
- Staff having access to the training, information and tools they need
- Probation working effectively with specialist domestic abuse services and partner agencies
- Perpetrators being managed appropriately and supported to change harmful behaviour.
Find out more
Learn more about the Commissioner’s work to improve police and probation’s role in tackling and preventing domestic abuse.