Domestic Abuse Delivery Plan
Avon and Somerset Constabulary have published its domestic abuse delivery plan for the next year to demonstrate its commitment to tackling the issue, which is one of our force priorities.
Victims
- We will be professional, friendly and interested.
- We will listen to you.
- We will offer advice and support where appropriate.
- We will work with partners to keep you safe.
- We will work to ensure feedback from victims is reflected in service improvement.
- We will work to encourage and increase reporting of domestic abuse from all sections of society and within our workplace.
Children
- We will consider the voice of the child and will accurately record their presence and views where appropriate.
- We will actively consider the risk to children, whether present or not, at all domestic incidents.
- We will work with partners and non-offending parents to keep the child safe.
- We will accurately record the details of all incidents involving the parents of children.
Perpetrators
- We will take positive and appropriate action to tackle and enforce against offending behaviour.
- We will develop and increase the use of Body Worn Video to support victimless prosecutions.
- We will work with partners to tackle those presenting the highest risk to victims, and serial domestic abuse perpetrators.
- We will be an organisation that supports the Employer’s initiative around Domestic Abuse, ensuring that DA is not tolerated in the workplace.
Culture
- We will endeavour to attend all calls relating to domestic abuse.
- We will prioritise the safeguarding of victims and children affected by domestic abuse.
- We will offer continuous professional development for staff working in areas tackling domestic abuse.
- We will have senior oversight and governance of domestic abuse.
- We will develop systems and processes to ensure staff have the right information at the right time to effectively manage risk and investigations.
A message from Police and Crime Commissioner – Clare Moody
“Domestic abuse is a serious and pervasive crime that affects thousands of people in Avon and Somerset every year.
It is often hidden behind closed doors, yet its impact ripples through families, communities, and generations.
We have to respond effectively to this all-too-common crime and ensure that victims-survivors have access to the specialist trauma support they need is essential to helping them cope and recover.
Each year in our area, there are over 23,000 recorded domestic abuse crimes, around 15% of all recorded crime. These numbers only scratch the surface, with many victims feeling unable to reach out for the support the need and deserve.
As your Police and Crime Commissioner, I am committed to reducing violent crime, with a specific focus on male violence against women and girls, which inevitably includes improving the response to women and children living with domestic abuse and increasing the reporting of hidden crimes. Together, we can build a safer and more supportive community for everyone.”
What Assistant Chief Constable ACC Jo Hall had to say
“Avon and Somerset Police have pioneered several Domestic Abuse programmes of work that have helped to target offenders and focus on those that present the highest risk.
Through our trauma informed approach, we have enhanced the service, support and care that we provide victims and are continuing to find new and innovative ways to further strengthen safeguarding and investigative opportunities in this vital area of police work.
We have also formed close working relationships with partners, outside agencies and charities to provide enhanced victim support and safeguarding. Our ongoing focus in reducing and preventing domestic violence is complimented by our work within the rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) and within our violence against women and girls (VAWG) portfolios.
Taking lessons from Op Soteria, we have adopted the Trauma Informed, Victim Led, Suspect Focussed approach within our domestic violence workstreams. Working together, we are determined to reduce domestic violence, improve victim support and increase those offenders that are brought to justice”.