MPA/MPS annual Violence Against Women report

Report: 9
Date: 2 February 2011
By: Chief Executive

Summary

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the first joint MPA/MPS Annual Violence against Women report.

A. Recommendation

That members note the report and agree the recommendations.

B. Supporting information

1. The attached report was produced as part of the action plans supporting the Mayoral London Violence against Women and Girls Strategy The Way Forward. It is the first pan-London overview of policing violence against women.

2. The report outlines the complexity of the police response to violence against women (VAW) and explores recent developments and improvements. Each of the units which hold responsibility for a type of crime under the umbrella heading of VAW outlines their responsibilities, their challenges, and provides a case study where their hard work has resulted in a successful outcome.

3. The prevalence of reported VAW is discussed and commented upon. Differences in volume of reporting over time and across London’s boroughs are explored and some analysis of the demographics of reported domestic and sexual violence is provided.

4. In terms of securing future improvements, the detailed information and discussions from all the sessions of the MPA Domestic and Sexual Violence Board are analysed and from this recommendations are made. During 2010, nine London boroughs presented their response to domestic and sexual violence locally to the DSVB. These were; Haringey, Barking and Dagenham, Lewisham, Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Islington, Westminster, Hounslow and Hillingdon. A thematic session on first response, call handling and front counters was also reviewed.

5. The data and content of these reports, along with local good practice and the issues which cropped up in discussions from most (if not all) the boroughs, were examined to identify issues which were relevant across London. These areas for improvement are explored in this report and the resulting DSVB recommendations to the MPS are as follows;

• MPS to ensure that corporate analysis of demographics uses the same data across its commands and units.
• MPS to provide clarity on the volume of recorded LGBT domestic violence.
• MPS to review the training for officers from SCD2 and SCD5 to ensure specialist training on investigating sexual offences, and specialist training on child protection and working with children as victims is appropriately available to both units.
• MPS to review borough practice of the use of cautions to ensure the proportion of cautions within SD rates is appropriate and that cautions are used sparingly.
• SCD2 Units to ensure and be able to demonstrate they have working relationships with their local borough Community Safety Partnerships and local sexual violence service providers from the voluntary and community sector.
• MPS CSU, Sapphire Unit and CAIT managers should ensure that compliance with Victims Code of Practice is consistently met regardless of crime types and referral pathways are developed with local support providers.
• MPS review their adoption of the definition and recording of domestic violence to ensure that children and young people can be accurately recorded and that domestic violence in young adult relationships can be effectively addressed.
• MPS to make refresher training on domestic violence available for officers and staff coming into frequent contact with the public every 5 years.

6. The content of the report also identifies issues which did not result from discussions at DSVB meetings but nevertheless will require further exploration. As the DSVB will close its’ borough by borough review process it will work towards a London-wide policy and practice approach and issues identified in this report can form the initial focus for this new approach. These include a commitment to explore the demographics of reported serious sexual offences with a particular focus on age and ethnicity, and a further report on stalking and harassment.

7. The report also includes a section on good practice identified by the DSVB over the last 12 months, and it is hoped that publicly commending these projects and initiatives will encourage other boroughs across London to adapt this good practice and replicate where possible locally.

C. Other organisational and community implications

Equality and Diversity Impact

1. Equality and Diversity implications are explored in the VAW report. This includes recognition that ‘Violence against Women’ is agreed terminology defined by the United Nations and which includes types of offences such as domestic violence, rape and other forms of sexual violence, stalking and harassment, trafficking and prostitution, so-called ‘honour’ based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. It is also important to note that such crimes are also perpetrated against men and the term VAW simply reflects that they are disproportionally experienced by women.

Consideration of MET Forward

2. This area of work forms part of the Violence against Women section of the Met Partners strand.

Financial Implications

3. There are no financial implications though if the MPS expands its definition of domestic violence to include those aged under 18 years of age there would be implications for the resourcing of Community Safety Units, which currently investigate domestic violence and hate crime. However offences currently reported to the MPS which would fall under this category are investigated, so this may be a process of restructuring existing resources to meet need more appropriately.

4. The recommendations relating to training provision may also have resource implications for the MPS.

Legal Implications

5. There are no legal implications resulting from this report.

Environmental Implications

6. There are no environmental implications resulting from this report.

Risk Implications

7. There are no risk implications directly resulting from this report. However it is accepted that VAW is a high risk, high volume area of business which carries significant risk both in terms of harm to the public and impact on the reputation of the MPS.

D. Background papers

• DSVB Annual Report 2009-10, January 2010 CEP Committee

E. Contact details

Report authors: Lynne Abrams, Public Protection Policy Officer, MPA

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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