Annex 4
ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF POLICE OFFICERS OF ENGLAND,
WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Crime Business Area
John Dunworth
Domestic Violence Unit
Home Office
Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
3 September 2007
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOMICIDE REVIEWS
I refer to the meeting at the Home Office
convened on 5 July 2007 to discuss progress in respect of the
implementation of Section 9. I found the meeting helpful and I
felt it appropriate to set out my views on behalf of ACPO in respect
of the merit of the proposals.
Despite substantial lapses from time
to time in respect of the co-ordination of effort against domestic
violence, it is our view that significant progress has been made
by most agencies with a responsibility for the protection of victims.
The principal question I have been considering
is what are we going to learn that is new from Reviews, rather
than merely reinforcing what we already know? The lessons by now
are clear to us from existing reviews under Part 8 and from our
existing cohort of knowledge in respect of domestic violence:
— Inadequate arrangements for
information sharing.
— Inadequate arrangements for
risk identification, assessment and management.
— Inadequate supervision.
There is already adequate policy, guidance
and advice on what to do: the issue is that there is inadequate
rigour in delivery and it is questionable whether DVHRs as "soft"
learning will deliver the essential rigour needed.
Also, noting the debate about "new
business or core business", there is presently little capacity
to do more and do it meaningfully, according to feedback from
Forces and partners.
If Government is determined to implement
DVHRs then they should be streamlined so that they develop our
understanding rather than enforcing what we already know. It would
genuinely advance our understanding if such DVHRs as are commissioned
concentrate upon the background of perpetrators in order to strengthen
our knowledge and inform the design of tools for risk management.
11 October 2007
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