Contact with police before a man and a woman die - Hertfordshire Constabulary, June 2016
Recommendation date: 19 February 2018
Response due: 16 April 2018
Published: 2 July 2018
Death and serious injury
Domestic abuse
In June 2016 Hertfordshire Constabulary arrested a man for offences against his ex-partner, whom he had previously been convicted of assaulting. The man was interviewed and bailed to return to the police station in 18 days. He was bailed to an address eight doors away from his ex-partner, with conditions not to enter her road or contact her directly or indirectly. She was assessed as a high-risk domestic abuse victim. Two days after his arrest, the man allegedly breached his bail conditions by contacting his ex-partner and turning up at her address. She provided a statement, but no other action was taken by police in relation to this. On his bail-to-return date, the man was re-bailed by the investigating officer instead of being charged for the offences. The next day, both the man and the woman were found dead. Hertfordshire Constabulary began a criminal investigation into their deaths, which concluded …
Recommendations (7)
Recommendation 1
Accepted
Recommendation
During this investigation it became apparent that rest day workers volunteering in DAISU were working on domestic abuse investigations, but did not have access to DAISU files. Hertfordshire Constabulary should therefore ensure all officers/staff involved in the investigation of a … Read more
Force Response
Accepted action: There is now a framework between DAISU Senior Managers and the Resourcing Manager which means only staff who are trained and familiar with DAISU operating procedures can be accepted into the cohort of volunteers. Training is provided ‘in … Read more
Recommendation 2
Accepted
Recommendation
Hertfordshire Constabulary should make the outcome of domestic abuse risk assessments easily accessible and identifiable to those involved in the investigation.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Force Response
Accepted action: All Risk Assessments are held in Family Front Sheet records and these are accessible to all staff deployed in DAISU. This position will improve further in May 2018 when the risk assessments will be ‘pole’ lined to subjects … Read more
Recommendation 3
Accepted
Recommendation
Hertfordshire Constabulary should require officers to document the rationale for any change in risk for domestic abuse victims.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Force Response
Accepted action: There are current variables of recording rationales (including Family Front Sheets, CIS and on the Risk Assessments). However, all methods are accessible to DAISU staff. The Athena system will capture rationales against the pole system from May 2018. Read more
Recommendation 4
Awaiting Response
Recommendation
Hertfordshire Constabulary to consider implementing mandatory risk assessments for domestic abuse victims when the alleged perpetrator breaches their bail conditions, or, where a risk assessment has been conducted and remains appropriate, revisit the victim’s safety plan. Do you accept the … Read more
Recommendation 5
Awaiting Response
Recommendation
Hertfordshire Constabulary to consider formalising the process between custody and DAISU in relation to deciding whether to bail a suspect. The current Hertfordshire Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Bail states the decision to bail (with or without conditions) is the … Read more
Recommendation 6
Accepted
Recommendation
Hertfordshire Constabulary to ensure any officer in charge (OIC) of a domestic abuse investigation is sufficiently qualified and suitable for the role.
Do you accept the recommendation?
Yes
Force Response
Accepted action:
All DAISU staff now follow PIP Level 2 accreditation and there is also a pathway for Trainee Investigators.
Recommendation 7
Accepted
Recommendation
Hertfordshire Constabulary to advise officers investigating incidents of domestic abuse, where the suspect has been bailed to return before charge, to complete the MG3 and seek a charging decision from the CPS in a timely manner, if the threshold or … Read more
Force Response
Accepted action:
The DAISU Case Directors now require a strict submission of MG3 at least 3 days before bail dates are due.