Domestic Abuse Case Training

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/24/006141/E

Version Date: 28/08/2024

The Alliance Resourcing & Development Department have provided the following information.

Is your force currently delivering formal or informal training in handling domestic abuse cases?

Formal.

If yes,

What does the current training consist of?

PIP2IDP (Professionalising Investigation Programme 2: Investigators Development Programme)

This mandatory delivery to all new Detective Constables and PIP Level 2 Police Staff Investigators (as part of their six-week long course) covers:

• Typical DA behaviours (destructive behaviours / verbal abuse / pressure tactics / disrespect / isolation / harassment / threats / sexual violence / physical violence / denial / coercive & controlling).
• That victims and perpetrators can be both male and female.
• The role of ethnicity (i.e., FGM / HBA / FM).
• The need for detailed questioning around the DASH model.
• Assessing risk within DA offences (and risk levels).
• RARAT (Remove / Avoid / Reduce / Accept / Transfer), including safety planning and tactical options.
• MARAC within High-Risk cases.
• IDVAs and ISVAs.
• Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults within DA investigations.
• Reasonable Lines of Enquiry and evidential opportunities.
• CPS / NPCC DA checklist.
• Early Advice from CPS and charging decisions.
• Specialist Domestic Violence courts.
• Arrest strategies.
• Evidence-based prosecutions (i.e., non-assisting victims)
• Civil Protection Orders

DSDP (Detective Sergeants Development Programme)

This mandatory delivery is to all new Detective Sergeants (as part of their three-week course) covers:

• Definitions
• Non-Fatal Strangulation:
  • Link with homicide / attempted homicide
  • Effect of trauma on memory
  • Timeline
  • Evidence gathering and case building.
• Controlling or Coercive Behaviour
• Stalking and Harassment
• ‘Red Flags’
• Investigative Mindset for DA Investigations
• Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme
• MARAC
• International offences
• CPS Guidance
• Civil Protection Orders (including DVPNs/DVPOs)

DIDP (Detective Inspectors Development Programme)

This mandatory delivery to all new Detective Inspectors (as part of their three-week course) covers:

• The management of high-risk DA offenders.
• A detailed case study referring to a complex, high-risk DA relationship.

Please provide details of the following.

•           I would like to request all course material delivered in the training, such as papers, exercises and powerpoints. If any material is protected under copyright I would instead
•           like the title, author or similar.

The Force uses the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) which can be found at this link: https://www.college.police.uk/app/major-investigation-and-public-protection/domestic-abuse

•           Does your training go through scenarios with different genders as the perpetrators/victims? Or does the training have another element of gendered focus?

For both student officers and staff, there is no specific training to address genders, however, neither do we ignore it. Domestic abuse happens along all spectrums of society and all genders and we address that throughout the sessions. The training includes many types of data and delves into domestic abuse for all genders. The physical scenario does have the capacity (and we do this) to have different genders as the victim and perpetrator and same gender couples, so the students can experience all aspects.

• How many hours or days will the training take?

Student Officers

• Domestic abuse – 6 hours
• Responding to domestic abuse – 3 hours
• Domestic abuse classroom scenario – 1.5 hours
• Domestic assault physical scenario = 1 scenario

Staff

7 hours

•           How regularly do you give this training? And how regularly are staff offered or provided with this training in their careers?

No specified frequency.

•           Is it online or in person?

In person for both student officers and staff.
•          
•           Is it individual or in groups, if the latter how big are the groups then?

Groups of up to 24 for student officers.

Groups of up to 30 for staff.

•           Is it mandatory? Is it assessed? And can you fail the training? If yes, will it have any consequences if a staff member fails? And how many have failed the last year?

Student Officers

Mandatory

Assessment for practical scenarios.

You can fail the scenario overall. Potential back course and re-teach.

Information not held regarding numbers failed in the last year.

Staff

Mandatory

No specific assessment

No pass/fail

• Who delivers the training?

Student Officers

Police trainers

Staff

Combination of police trainers (both officers and civilian) and external providers.

•           Is it external organisations, like SafeLives? If not, is the training done by internal staff and if that is the case, what are their qualifications? Please provide a list of organisations that have carried out training in the last 10 years.

Not for student officers. Trainers hold a minimum of a level 3 teaching qualification.

For Staff, we have used Women’s aid in the past and have recently commissioned Safe Lives.

Are members of staff actively offered the training, or will they apply for it themselves?

All staff are offered the training.

• If it is offered, then what members of staff is it offered to?

All front line officers and any relevant police staff.

How long have you been providing this, or similar, training? In the last 10 years, have there been any significant changes in how you provide this training, for who and by who? Please provide details of any changes.

For student officers, there hasn’t been any huge significant changes apart from the new re-write which has extended the training duration. There will of course have been updates to the training content with regards to process and legislation during this time.

For Staff, police training will have always included Domestic Abuse (DA) as long as it has been in legislation. The programme itself ‘DA matters’ has been updated in line with any changes to legislation. There will be a change in the external provider from Women’s Aid to Safe Lives this year.

Do you track the completion and impact of the training?

Yes

•           If yes, how?

Student Officer

Completion of student officer training.

Staff

Completion of attendance records.

Please, can you tell me how many staff members have received and finished the training each year since 2015?

Please note that the following figures for Staff are for 2016 only as there was no other training delivered before or after during the timeframe requested.

There is no official ‘start and finish’ for the training for both Staff and Student Officers. If you start the training you also finish it.

Staff

2969

Student Officer

The below figures are recorded in financial years (April – March)

• 2015/16 - 131
• 2016/17 - 121
• 2017/18 - 130
• 2018/19 - 130
• 2019/20 - 123
• 2020/21 - 244
• 2021/22 - 268
• 2022/23 - 396

If your force is not offering training, do they signpost knowledge about domestic abuse in another capacity? (Online, from other organisations and so on.)

In the periods where no direct delivery is taking place, information is always available on our Intranet and there will be e-learning made available from such organisations as the College of Policing

If your force is not offering training, can you please explain what the reasoning behind this is?

Not applicable.