Fear, Control and Secrecy

Domestic abuse is not only about violence

From Hillsborough to the 2011 riots, the public’s relationship with the police has been put under strain time and time again. A body that is intended to protect the public, too often we are presented with images and reports of huge failings in terms of performance, procedure, honesty and civilian protection.

The latest failings brought into the public domain are those in relation to cases of domestic abuse. In a recent HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (hmic) report titled ‘Everyone’s business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse’, police failings in the response to domestic abuse calls across England & Wales were detailed.

From 2012–2013, the number of domestic abuse related crimes in England and Wales was comparable to other crimes such as burglary, vehicle crime and robbery. As a largely hidden crime, you may be surprised by its prevalence, with emergency calls relating to domestic abuse received by police every thirty seconds, and domestic abuse constituting one third of recorded assaults with injury.

Through the juxtaposition of keywords and passages of text, this document explores some of the contradictions between the Association of Chief Police Officers’ (acpo) Statement of Mission and Values, and hmic’s recent report.

Association of Chief Police Officers Statement of Mission and Values

The mission of the police is to make communities safer by upholding the law fairly and firmly; preventing crime and antisocial behaviour; keeping the peace; protecting and reassuring communities; investigating crime and bringing offenders to justice.

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We will act with integrity, compassion, courtesy and patience, showing neither fear nor favour in what we do.

04 06

We will be sensitive to the needs and dignity of victims and demonstrate respect for the human rights of all.

We will use discretion, professional judgement and common sense to guide us and will be accountable for our decisions and actions. We will respond to well-founded criticism with a willingness to learn and change.

We will work with communities and partners, listening to their views, building their trust and confidence, making every effort to understand and meet their needs.

We will not be distracted from our mission through fear of being criticised. In identifying and managing risk, we will seek to achieve successful outcomes and to reduce the risk of harm to individuals and communities.

In the face of violence we will be professional, calm and restrained and will apply only that force which is necessary to accomplish our lawful duty.

Our commitment is to deliver a service that we and those we serve can be proud of and which keeps our communities safe.

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02

Integrity

in·teg·ri·ty [in-teg-ri-tee] noun 1.

2.

3.

adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship’s hull

‘Domestic abuse is a priority on paper but, in the majority of forces, not in practice.’

HMIC, Everyone’s business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse, 2014, p.6

04

com路pas路sion [kuhm-pash-uhn] noun 1.

2.

a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering verb (used with object) Archaic. to compassionate

Compassion

‘Victims wanted to feel like officers believed their stories.

They wanted them to be sympathetic and crucially – nonjudgmental’

HMIC, Everyone’s business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse, 2014, p.49

06

Courtesy cour·te·sy [kur-tuh-see or for 5, kurt-see] noun 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression indulgence, consent, or acquiescence: a “colonel” by courtesy rather than by right favor, help, or generosity: The costumes for the play were by courtesy of the local department store a curtsy

‘…29 percent of those who reported their incident to the police had not been informed of such support [groups].’

HMIC, Everyone’s business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse, 2014, p.64

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Neither fear

fear [feer] noun 1.

2.

3. fa·vour [fey-vur] noun an approving attitude; good will 2. an act performed out of good will, generosity, or mercy 3. prejudice and partiality; favouritism 4. a condition of being regarded with approval or good will (esp in the phrases in favour , out of favour ) 5. archaic leave; permission 6. a token of love, goodwill, etc 7. a small gift or toy given to a guest at a party 8. history a badge or ribbon worn or given to indicate loyalty, often bestowed on a knight by a lady 9. obsolete chiefly ( Brit ) a communication, esp a business letter 10. archaic appearance 11. find favour with to be approved of by someone 12. in favour of a. approving b. to the benefit of c. (of a cheque, etc) made out to d. in order to show preference for: I rejected him in favour of George

4.

1.

5.

a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc, whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm. Antonyms: courage, security, calm, intrepidity a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights. Synonyms: phobia, aversion; bête noire, bogy, bogey, bugbear. Antonyms: liking, fondness, penchant, predilection concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone’s safety. reverential awe, especially toward God: the fear of God. Synonyms: awe, respect, reverence, veneration something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension; something a person is afraid of: Cancer is a common fear

nor favour

‘Some of the victims we spoke to […] had been in abusive relationships with police officers.

They described their utter lack of confidence in the police response and fear that the service would “look after its own”.’

HMIC, Everyone’s business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse, 2014, p.35

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Sensitive sen路si路tive [sen-si-tiv] adjective 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

endowed with sensation; having perception through the senses readily or excessively affected by external agencies or influences having acute mental or emotional sensibility; aware of and responsive to the feelings of others easily pained, annoyed, etc pertaining to or connected with the senses or sensation

to the needs need [need] Show IPA noun 1.

and dignity of victims

2.

3.

4.

5. dig路ni路ty [dig-ni-tee] noun 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation nobility or elevation of character; worthiness: dignity of sentiments elevated rank, office, station, etc relative standing; rank a sign or token of respect: an impertinent question unworthy of the dignity of an answer

a requirement, necessary duty, or obligation: There is no need for you to go there a lack of something wanted or deemed necessary: to fulfill the needs of the assignment urgent want, as of something requisite: He has no need of your charity necessity arising from the circumstances of a situation or case: There is no need to worry a situation or time of difficulty; exigency: to help a friend in need; to be a friend in need

‘In some cases officers were said to have framed questions in a way that made the victims feel like it was their fault that the abuse has occurred.’

HMIC, Everyone’s business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse, 2014, p.51

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Professional pro路fes路sion路al [pruh-fesh-uh-nl] adjective 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder of, pertaining to, or connected with a profession: professional studies appropriate to a profession: professional objectivity. engaged in one of the learned professions: A lawyer is a professional person following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime: a professional golfer

judgment

judg路ment [juhj-muhnt] noun 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

an act or instance of judging the ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, especially in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion: a man of sound judgment the demonstration or exercise of such ability or capacity: The major was decorated for the judgment he showed under fire the forming of an opinion, estimate, notion, or conclusion, as from circumstances presented to the mind: Our judgment as to the cause of his failure must rest on the evidence the opinion formed: He regretted his hasty judgment

‘Officers are often illequipped to identify dangerous patterns of behaviour in domestic abuse perpetrators accurately, in particular where there is no overt physical violence…’

HMIC, Everyone’s business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse, 2014, p.9

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Common sense Common sense noun 1.

sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence

‘Victims in focus groups raised concerns that they were being required to recount their stories repeatedly.’

HMIC, Everyone’s business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse, 2014, p.59

More needs to be done to ensure the police have sufficient training in how to deal with such a complicated issue and restore the trust of people in need. Specialist training is required to ensure appropriate procedures such as separating a victim from their abuser before making enquiries, offering a translator for victims whose first language is not English, or checking a victim’s call history prior to arrival. Police forces should seek to work with domestic abuse charities such as Shelter, to improve their appropriate knowledge, understanding, and procedures. Officers should also undergo specialist training to help identify patterns of emotional abuse.

If you agree with the issues explored in this document, please take a minute to contact Sir Hugh Orde, President of acpo.

Sir Hugh Orde 1st Floor 10 Victoria Street London SW1H 0NN Date:

Dear Sir Hugh, It has come to my attention that the police have, in recent years, failed to address cases of domestic abuse in an appropriate manner, resulting in failings for many victims across England and Wales.

I am calling on acpo to address the issue of underperforming forces through use of specialist training programs and procedures, achieved through working with, and learning from, domestic abuse charities.

Training should provide officers with the knowledge required to identify patterns of emotional abuse, as well as domestic violence, and improve awareness and understanding of domestic abuse. The priority of procedures should be sensitive to the victim, and involve methods such as removing the victim from their abuser as a priority upon arrival, offering a translator for victims whose first language is not English, and checking a victim’s call history prior to arrival.

It is in the public interest that the police force addresses this issue and, by doing so, takes positive steps to restoring the trust of the people who need it most.

Yours sincerely,

Sir Hugh Orde 1st Floor 10 Victoria Street London SW1H 0NN

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