Police domestic abuse keys
Inadequate police guidance and procedures for managing shared keys in domestic abuse cases, allowing suspects to retain access.
69 items
5 sources
1 inquiry
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Police domestic abuse keys has been flagged across 5 independent accountability sources:
1 inquiry rec
10 PFD reports
21 HMICFRS recs
29 IOPC recs
8 LGO/SPSO decisions
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
PFD Reports (10)
Anne-Marie Nield
Concerns: Police officers widely misunderstood Domestic Abuse policy, failed to use system markers or recognize non-fatal strangulation as a risk factor, conducted inadequate assessments, and critical recommendations remained unimplemented.
Response (Greater Manchester Police): Greater Manchester Police accepts the points raised and will use this case as a study for video briefings to frontline officers, including non-fatal strangulation, VCOP, definitions, markers, flags, and escalating …
Responded
Kay Martin
Concerns: A perpetrator of domestic abuse was not subject to any police bail conditions or restrictions for over a month, leaving the victim unprotected and at severe risk.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office has coordinated the implementation of several actions, including the NPCC publishing operational guidance on domestic abuse and high harm cases. HMICFRS are also inspecting all forces on …
Responded
Katrina O’Hara
Concerns: Outdated police policy led to a high-risk 999 call being downgraded, and officers failed to recognise the increased danger to the victim when the perpetrator expressed suicidal intent. The victim was also left without a replacement phone after hers was seized for evidence.
Response (National Police Chiefs Council): The NPCC has undertaken a major refresh of the National Contact Management Strategy since 2015, with revised principles and practice that cover the issue of inappropriate channel selection. The report …
Response (Crime Policing and Fire Service): The Home Office is working to pilot and evaluate approaches to identifying and tackling high risk offenders, including adding suicide indicators to the list of potential risk indicators. Work is …
Responded
Alfie Gildea
Concerns: Suspects in domestic abuse cases were not placed on bail with conditions to protect alleged victims and there was a lack of understanding amongst police witnesses about the GMP policy in relation to serial/serious DA perpetrators and the actions that were required under GMPs policy.
Response (Greater Manchester Police): Greater Manchester Police has conducted a review into the triage process of district safeguarding teams, is developing a triage training course including guidance on information sharing, and has recruited a …
Response (Childrens Services Trafford Council): Trafford Council states it has already made significant improvements to policies and procedures since 2018 and believes the coroner's concerns are directed to central government.
Response (Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership): Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership will present learning from the Serious Case Review to the Greater Manchester Quality Board and share it with commissioners of services for consideration.
Response (Crown Prosecution Service): The CPS acknowledges differences in the definitions of a serial domestic abuser and explains the role of the prosecutor in relation to reasonable lines of enquiry.
Response (Dept. of Health and Social Care): The Dept. of Health and Social Care notes the concerns raised, mentions a Serious Case Review and review of its action plan, and states that local authorities are responsible for …
Response (Home Office): The Home Office describes national actions to manage perpetrators of abuse including College of Policing guidance, a review of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare's Law), and the introduction of …
Responded
Trevor Smith
Concerns: Critical mental health information from MARAC was not accurately recorded or cascaded to police, leading to officers being unaware of the deceased's EMD status. There was also confusion and a lack of coordination during CPR efforts.
Response (College of Policing): The NPCC First Aid Forum will formally raise the issue of establishing a first aid (CPR) coordinator at its next meeting. The College of Policing will send out a national …
Response (West Midlands Police): West Midlands Police have updated team briefing sheets to include reference to the CPR coordinator role and updated the Medical Plan to include direction regarding the coordination of care. All …
Responded
Aliny Godinho
Concerns: Ongoing risks exist due to delayed training for Domestic Abuse Team staff and supervisors on updated policies. There is also no system for effective supervisory review of initial risk assessments and safeguarding plans.
Response (NPCC and College of Policing): The NPCC and College of Policing emphasize an individual needs approach to domestic abuse victims, with a focus on professional curiosity, cultural competence, and improving risk assessment. Training, guidelines and …
Overdue
Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem
Concerns: Severe understaffing in the domestic abuse unit meant cases were not investigated, leaving high-risk victims vulnerable to ongoing violence and threats due to a lack of effective police action.
Response (West Midlands Police): West Midlands Police restructured the Public Protection Department in 2019, increasing staff allocated to DA investigation and replacing Domestic Abuse Teams with Adult Investigation and Adult Complex Investigation Teams; they …
Response (West Midlands Police): West Midlands Police restructured the Public Protection Department in 2019, increasing staff allocated to DA investigation and replacing Domestic Abuse Teams with Adult Investigation and Adult Complex Investigation Teams; they …
Response (Home Office): The Home Office highlights the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan, committing to assist in funding the rollout of Domestic Abuse Matters training and funding the …
Response (College of Policing): The College of Policing has created a 'DA Matters' training package for police responders focusing on coercive control, delivered by DA charities, and has rolled out the Domestic Abuse Risk …
Response (West Midlands Police): West Midlands Police is publishing a revised Domestic Abuse policy with an initial response action checklist and will launch it with a tailored communication and briefing package; they have also …
Response (West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner): The Police and Crime Commissioner acknowledges the coroner's report and highlights ongoing efforts by West Midlands Police to address domestic abuse, while also noting resource constraints and the impact of …
Responded
Leroy Hamilton
Concerns: Critical shortages of inpatient mental health beds and PDU spaces leave acutely ill patients without specialist care. Police also failed to correctly classify and risk-assess mentally unwell individuals as high-risk missing persons.
Response (West Midlands Police): West Midlands Police have taken multiple steps including updating missing person investigation training, providing a toolkit for staff interactions with missing persons, upgrading the missing persons recording system, and developing …
Response (NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB): Birmingham and Solihull ICB, with BSMHFT and UHBFT, are jointly reviewing pathways of care for acutely unwell people requiring mental health support, including the need for increased mental health beds …
Response (Department of Health and Social Care): The Department of Health is supporting the NHS to reduce waiting times in A&E by adding beds, speeding up discharge, and increasing transparency. West Midlands Police are setting up a …
Responded
Sharon Harman
Concerns: Police guidance for pre-release checks in domestic abuse cases was not fully applied, and officers felt they lacked legal power to retain a suspect's house key.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office will raise discrepancies between College of Policing guidance and PACE powers with the College of Policing. They describe plans for Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders, and …
Responded
Georgia Barter
Concerns: Frontline police officers face difficulty accessing the Police National Database for domestic abuse history across different force areas, hindering proactive identification and intervention for victims.
Response (Home Office): The Home Office describes the Police National Database and its use, noting it is a top priority to tackle violence against women and girls and highlighting the new National Policing …
Responded
HMICFRS Recommendations (21)
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Wiltshire Police
Cause of concern: The force does not protect vulnerable people from harm to an acceptable standard. Recommendation: Wiltshire Police should, within three months, make sure that:- officers carry out a risk assessment for every incident of domestic abuse, including verbal …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Devon and Cornwall Police
Cause of concern: Devon and Cornwall Police is too often failing to record reports of violent crime, particularly behavioural crimes (harassment, stalking, controlling and coercive behaviour), domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour. Recommendation: Within three months, Devon and Cornwall Police should …
Recommendation
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Cleveland Police
Cause of concern: Cleveland Police is failing to respond appropriately to vulnerable people, including children. It is missing opportunities to safeguard them and is exposing them to risk. Recommendation: The force must take immediate action to ensure that: • it …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Wiltshire Police
Cause of concern: The force does not protect vulnerable people from harm to an acceptable standard. Recommendation: Wiltshire Police should, within three months, make sure that:- Domestic Violence Protection Notices Orders (DVPOs) are considered in all appropriate cases
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Sussex Police
Cause of concern: The force is too often failing to record reports of violent crime, particularly behavioural crimes (harassment, stalking, controlling and coercive behaviour), rape crimes and incidents, domestic abuse and antisocial behaviour. Recommendation: Sussex Police should immediately take steps …
Recommendation
PEEL 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Hertfordshire Constabulary
Cause of concern: The constabulary is failing to record reports of crime correctly Recommendation: Within three months, the constabulary should provide specific training for officers and staff on recording rape crimes and review processes to make sure it is recording …
Recommendation
PEEL 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Hertfordshire Constabulary
Cause of concern: The constabulary is failing to record reports of crime correctly Recommendation: Within three months the constabulary should provide training for all supervisors, officers and staff who work in crime-recording roles; this training should include the crime-recording requirements …
Recommendation
PEEL 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Hertfordshire Constabulary
Cause of concern: The constabulary is failing to record reports of crime correctly Recommendation: With immediate effect the constabulary should review its crime-recording audit schedules and governance arrangements. It should give particular attention to crimes of rape, behavioural crimes, violent …
Recommendation
An inspection of the service provided to victims of crime by Greater …
Cause of concern: The force is failing to make sure it correctly records all reported crimes, particularly violent crime, including domestic abuse behavioural crimes such as harassment, stalking and coercive controlling behaviour. So these crimes are often not investigated and …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Gloucestershire Constabulary
Cause of concern: Gloucestershire Constabulary is failing to record domestic abuse, behavioural crimes, and crimes linked to anti-social behaviour. This is significantly affecting the force’s crime recording standards. And it shows that victims of domestic abuse, behavioural crimes and anti-social …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Gloucestershire Constabulary
Cause of concern: Gloucestershire Constabulary is failing to record domestic abuse, behavioural crimes, and crimes linked to anti-social behaviour. This is significantly affecting the force’s crime recording standards. And it shows that victims of domestic abuse, behavioural crimes and anti-social …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Dyfed-Powys Police
Cause of concern: Dyfed-Powys Police is too often failing to record reports of violent crime, particularly domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour towards people. Recommendation: Within three months the force should provide specific training for all supervisors, officers and staff who …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Dyfed-Powys Police
Cause of concern: Dyfed-Powys Police is too often failing to record reports of violent crime, particularly domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour towards people. Recommendation: The force should immediately take steps to identify and address gaps in its systems and processes …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Devon and Cornwall Police
Cause of concern: Devon and Cornwall Police is too often failing to record reports of violent crime, particularly behavioural crimes (harassment, stalking, controlling and coercive behaviour), domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour. Recommendation: Within three months, Devon and Cornwall Police should …
Recommendation
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Cleveland Police
Cause of concern: Cleveland Police is failing to respond appropriately to vulnerable people, including children. It is missing opportunities to safeguard them and is exposing them to risk. Recommendation: The force must take immediate action to ensure that: • there …
Recommendation
An inspection of the service provided to victims of crime by Greater …
Cause of concern: The force is failing to make sure it correctly records all reported crimes, particularly violent crime, including domestic abuse behavioural crimes such as harassment, stalking and coercive controlling behaviour. So these crimes are often not investigated and …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Gloucestershire Constabulary
Cause of concern: The inconsistent application of an effective THRIVE (threat, harm, risk, investigation, vulnerability and engagement) risk assessment by call handlers, accompanied by the absence of victim needs assessments and the limited extent to which repeat victims are identified …
Recommendation
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Dyfed-Powys Police
Cause of concern: It is a cause of concern to HMICFRS that Dyfed-Powys Police is failing to risk assess all incidents of domestic abuse. This means that opportunities to intervene and take appropriate action at the earliest opportunity are being …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Dyfed-Powys Police
Cause of concern: Dyfed-Powys Police is too often failing to record reports of violent crime, particularly domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour towards people. Recommendation: The force should immediately put in place arrangements to make sure that adequate supervision is applied …
Recommendation
PEEL 2021-22 CoC Recommendations: Devon and Cornwall Police
Cause of concern: Devon and Cornwall Police is too often failing to record reports of violent crime, particularly behavioural crimes (harassment, stalking, controlling and coercive behaviour), domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour. Recommendation: Devon and Cornwall Police should immediately take steps …
Recommendation
An inspection of the service provided to victims of crime by Greater …
Cause of concern: The force is failing to make sure it correctly records all reported crimes, particularly violent crime, including domestic abuse behavioural crimes such as harassment, stalking and coercive controlling behaviour. So these crimes are often not investigated and …
Recommendation
IOPC Learning Recommendations (29)
Recommendation - National Police Chiefs' Council, February 2023
The IOPC recommends that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) issue an advisory note to all forces in relation to the importance of ensuring their policies on silent/abandoned 999 calls - particularly when such are received from a telephone number, …
Recommendation - Hampshire Police, February 2023
The IOPC recommends that Hampshire police update their call handling and domestic abuse policies to provide suitable instruction to advise call-handling staff with regard to the actions expected of them in the event that an abandoned or silent 999 call …
Police contact with a woman and her partner, prior to the woman’s …
The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) include ‘Anonymous caller’ guidance in the ‘MPS Public Protection – Domestic Abuse (DA) Policy.’ Officers may benefit from specific guidance, where potential benefits and risks associated with contacting callers who wish …
Response to calls for assistance - Metropolitan Police Service, June 2018
To safeguard the victim during domestic abuse investigations, their address can be location marked and included in a special scheme that identifies that they are at risk. It is recommended that the MPS should take the necessary steps to ensure …
Investigation into a serious injury afflicted by a man on police bail …
The IOPC recommends that Essex Police takes steps to ensure that officers and staff have accurate and up-to-date knowledge in relation to domestic abuse and breaches of bail and breaches of civil orders. This should include consideration of issuing communications …
Investigation into police response to welfare concerns – Bedfordshire Police, May 2022
The IOPC recommends that Bedfordshire Police ensure that all relevant officers and staff understand the necessity to update the Police National Computer with information regarding Domestic Violence Prevention Notices (DVPNs) and Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs). This should be updated …
Investigation into police response to welfare concerns – Bedfordshire Police, May 2022
The IOPC recommends that Bedfordshire Police ensure all relevant teams and individuals understand the correct implementation and enforcement of Domestic Violence Prevention Orders (DVPOs), including specific and detailed guidance on the grounds required for a civil breach to have taken …
Police contact with a woman and her partner, prior to the woman’s …
The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) should conduct a review of their ‘refresher training programme’ for its officers and staff, to ensure that their knowledge and skills are aligned with policies associated with Domestic Abuse (DA) and …
Police contact with a woman and her partner, prior to the woman’s …
The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) should conduct a review of their ‘refresher training programme’ for its ‘contact centre’ staff, including non-permanent staff, and for all staff to have access to continuing professional development (CPD) to ensure …
Police contact with a woman and her partner, prior to the woman’s …
The IOPC recommends the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) should amend the ‘Gathering Evidence’ section of its Domestic Abuse (DA) Policy. Currently it says, ‘Officers must ensure that they gather as much information as practicable… and record the information gathered and …
Police contact with a woman and her partner, prior to the woman’s …
The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS): (a) should provide guidance on what is expected of, ‘thorough intelligence checks,’ across all MPS Domestic Abuse (DA) policy, guidance and related documents. Potentially, ‘thorough intelligence checks’ will include all related …
Police contact with a woman and her partner, prior to the woman’s …
The IOPC recommends that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) provides consistency across all MPS Domestic Abuse policy (DA), guidance and related documents in terms of whether the intelligence checks to be completed are for a ‘period of five years,’ or …
Police contact with woman before being murdered by ex-partner – West Yorkshire …
[Recommendation 9 not taken forward]
Police contact with woman before being murdered by ex-partner – West Yorkshire …
[Recommendation 8 not taken forward]
Police contact with woman before being murdered by ex-partner – West Yorkshire …
[Recommendation 4 not taken forward]
Contact with police before a man and a woman die - Hertfordshire …
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 …
Contact with police before a man and a woman die - Hertfordshire …
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
Contact with police before a man and a woman die - Hertfordshire …
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 …
Contact with police before a man and a woman die - Hertfordshire …
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 …
Contact with police before a man and a woman die - Hertfordshire …
Hertfordshire Constabulary should require officers to document the rationale for any change in risk for domestic abuse victims. Do you accept the recommendation? Yes
Contact with police before a man and a woman die - Hertfordshire …
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
Contact with police before a man and a woman die - Hertfordshire …
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 …
Response to concern for welfare report - Kent Police, July 2018
During the IOPC investigation, there was a lack of clarity over the need to make an inspector aware of a Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) warning linked to an incoming call, which may have contributed to the delay in …
Police contact with woman before her death – Suffolk Constabulary, January 2020
The IOPC recommends that Suffolk Constabulary review its approach to concern for welfare reports where there is also an element of domestic abuse. In cases where a concern for welfare report is received regarding a known DV perpetrator or victim, …
Police contact with woman before her death – Suffolk Constabulary, January 2020
The IOPC recommends that Suffolk Constabulary takes steps to ensure that response and domestic abuse officers consider a victim’s previous DV history when assessing risk, even if the previous reported domestic abuse was with a different partner and not recent. …
Police contact with woman before her death – Suffolk Constabulary, January 2020
The IOPC recommends that Suffolk Constabulary amend force training and guidance on the DASH risk assessment to highlight the importance of probing Q27 of the DASH: “Do you know if (Name of Abuser(s)) has ever been in trouble with the …
Investigation into a serious injury afflicted by a man on police bail …
The IOPC recommends that Essex Police should monitor the compliance of officers activating their body-worn cameras when attending domestic abuse incidents, and consider methods to raise awareness of this policy with officers. This follows an IOPC investigation whereby it was …
Investigation into a serious injury afflicted by a man on police bail …
The IOPC recommends that Essex Police should revise their guidance to include that when decisions are being made in relation to bail, investigating officers or their sergeants should record interim safeguarding plans onto the Athena record whilst awaiting DV5 safeguarding …
Investigation into a serious injury afflicted by a man on police bail …
The IOPC recommends that Essex Police should revise its custody procedures in order to ensure that when authorising bail the custody sergeant should upload the advice given to them by the relevant detective sergeant, or any advice given by officers …
LGO / SPSO Decisions (8)
21-000-700 — Westminster City Council
Summary: Ms E and Mr F complained the Council failed to deal with the noise and anti-social behaviour near to where they live. They also say the Council blocked a request from their housing provider to carry out a property transfer and it failed to deal with their complaint. We …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Jun 2022
24-011-250 — Bristol City Council
Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to take action over nuisance from its tenants. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Miss X could not have complained to us sooner. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Dec 2024
23-019-206 — Hastings Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with an anti-social behaviour case review. This is because it is reasonable for the complainant to ask for an appeal.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Apr 2024
25-000-432 — Bristol City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to take formal action against her landlord for harassment. There is insufficient evidence of fault to justify our involvement.
LGO (Local Government & …
Housing
Nov 2025
24-012-412 — Cannock Chase District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions on reports of anti-social behaviour. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions. And we consider that further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Dec 2024
201103531 — Fife Council
Mrs C was the owner-occupier of a flat underneath a council property. She regularly reported to the council that the actions of the tenant above caused her nuisance. Her reports mainly concerned her neighbour pacing the floor for prolonged periods, the constant drone of a television which was occasionally turned …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Not Upheld
Oct 2012
25-000-285 — Surrey Heath Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council was not involving small businesses in discussions about anti-social behaviour. Further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2025
24-023-495 — Medway Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to take action since August 2024 in response to the complainant’s reports of nuisance and anti-social behaviour by a neighbour. There is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2025