Overview of the latest changes to APP.
APP is subject to review (either scheduled or triggered) in consultation with the relevant National Policing Business Area. All amendments go through a review process and further information is available from contactus@college.police.uk
More detailed changes to APP content may be recorded separately by the the APP team. If you require a copy of APP as it was on a particular date (for example, for an enquiry) please email contactcentre@college.police.uk. All requests must be approved by the relevant Policing Standards Manager.
Latest changes to APP
| Date | Category | Guidance | Changes |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | Context and dynamics of domestic abuse | Domestic abuse definitions Deleted the cross-government definition and replaced with a statement about the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, including a link. Removed ‘but it not limited to’ prior to the bullets. Changed the bullets from psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional; to physical or sexual; violent or threatening; controlling or coercive; economic; psychological, emotional or other. Stated Female Genital Mutilation in full. Fixed the link to this APP. Added beneath ‘Detailed guidance relating specifically to forced marriage (FM) and honour based abuse (HBA) is set out in the APP on Forced marriage and honour based abuse.’ Included link. Next sentence ‘…to be linked…’ deleted ‘to one of the above’ and replaced with ‘to FGM, HBA and/or FM,’ The paragraph starting ‘Officers and staff…’ above the ‘For further information sentence’ – added ‘As with all reports to the police, officers...’ Home Office reference updated to DA Statutory guidance 2022. New section added titled Domestic Homicide Report. Three new paragraphs and a link to YouTube animation. Controlling or coercive behaviour Paragraph inserted second about unexpected death. Description of controlling or coercive behaviour The Home Office descriptions previously given have been deleted. A link to the Statutory Guidance has been inserted instead. Further explanation of controlling or coercive behaviour Under bullets, the paragraph starting ‘Further examples’ – links were replaced to more up to date content. The offence of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship Paragraph added at the end, after numbered list. This signposts to Home Office and CPS sources and deletes the previous ‘See…’ information. Repeatedly or continuously The last sentence was added ‘It is not...’ Personally connected when the behaviour took place Added reference to the DA Act 2021 changing the bullets to reflect this definition. A sentence added beneath about the Act removing previous requirements for people to be living together. Also adding a reference and link to the Family Law Act. Deleted a sentence ‘The offence does not…’ as it is out of date and incorrect now. Amended wording of last paragraph to be clearer and give a signpost (and link) to Child abuse APP. What statistics tells us First bullet – added word ‘approximately’, changed the percentages to reflect a different ONS report (more recent), added the word ‘experienced’ for clarity and updated the link. Deleted the last three bullets. Paragraph starts ‘In all cases…’ – updated the link to CPS; deleted the text that starts ‘state that…’ and ends ‘or the complainant’ replacing it with a reference to DA Act s 3. Also replaced the CPS guidance and the link to a more recent, appropriate one for child suspects. Paragraph starts ‘With regards’ – added statement ‘in line with the Family Law Act 1996’ and added the last four bullets of relationship types. Added a signpost and link for s 63 of Family Law Act. Next para, ‘Officers and staff...’ – minor wording changes to the second sentence. Serial perpetrator Last sentence – link/signpost text changed. Collection of data DV disclosure scheme link corrected. Offences associated with domestic abuse Table. Possible offences, 2nd down – added text about strangulation and suffocation and reference/links to Serious Crime Act. Examples of behaviour, Forced sexual activity – added text about gang initiation (left side). Examples of behaviour, changed ‘Revenge Pornography’ to ‘Threats to send or sending intimate images or videos. Right side – added signpost and link to Sex Offences Act; updated CPS signpost and link; Added link/signpost to CoP 2024 Sharing photographs. Updated signpost from ‘Revenge P’ to ‘Threats to send…’ Why do victims continue abusive relationships? Deleted this section due to duplication. Added sub-heading Strategies to overcome barriers to reporting Added the paragraph underneath. Behavioural conditions that may affect a victim’s response to the police Deleted reference to Stockholm syndrome. Reasons why a victim may continue an abusive relationship Added a paragraph initially explaining this is common. |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | Investigative development | Links updated:
Paragraph on 'assist' deleted. |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | Partnership working and multi-agency responses/mechanisms |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | Post-arrest management of suspect and casefile |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | Understanding risk and vulnerability in the context of domestic abuse | Approaches to risk assessment IDVA link updated. Penultimate bullet added, commences ‘Known trigger points…’ HBV swapped to HBA. Changed and added to the text at the end regarding DARA. Added sentence ‘Since this recommendation…’ and ‘Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment…’ DARA learning materials linked to College Learn. Particular issues affecting certain groups of victims Deleted ‘For further information’ – link is out of date and no replacements available. Victims from different cultural backgrounds ‘Violence’ changed to ‘abuse’; HBV changed to HBA – all occurrences. ‘For further information…’ – deleted Resolution link. Changed CPS to updated wording and link. Added signpost and links to Multi-agency statutory guidance for FM, and FM resource pack. Victims with insecure or uncertain immigration status 2nd paragraph, last line – added ‘They may particularly fear the loss of their children.’ Immigration Rules link corrected. ‘For further information see’ – one source no longer available, deleted this and removed bullets as only one remaining. Updated signposting and link to Women’s Aid resource. Information sharing with immigration enforcement First sentence, deleted ‘approved by Chief Constables’ Council on 23 April 2020.’ Male victims Updated name of charity from Men’s Advice Line to Respect and corrected the link. Corrected the links for the UK Gold Book; the Mankind Initiative; the Oak Book. ‘For further information see’ – deleted the CPS signpost and link. Added Domestic Abuse Commissioner support signpost and link; Respect Men’s Advice Line signpost and link. Victims from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities HBV changed to HBA. ‘For further information’ – Added signpost and link to APP Victim and witness care. Corrected broken links to the Control Wheel and CPS advice. ‘Organisations that can assist…’ – corrected links to GALOP, Stonewall and Stonewall Scotland. ‘For further information see’ – deleted the first bulleted link and took away bullets. Corrected the remaining signpost and link to Donovan et al. Scottish Transgender Alliance link and signpost wording corrected. ONS signpost wording and link corrected. Victims with a disability Inserted the word ‘significantly’ prior to ‘more likely to experience DA’, mid-paragraph. Removed the specific ONS percentages line as this is quickly out of date and fluctuates annually. Updated the ONS link and signpost to their website. ‘See also’ – updated wording and link for CPS. Added ‘The Unseen’ link. Teenagers and young persons Paragraph commencing ‘Similarly, if the…’ last sentence – changed wording slightly ‘…schools and charities, such as…’ – deleted ‘Troubled Families’ and included SafeLives and added a link. Paragraph starts ‘Changes in how people communicate…’ – second sentence, added: ‘This could be’ before directly, for example, by sending abusive or harassing messages or; then added ‘sending or threatening to send intimate images or videos.’ ‘For further information see’ – deleted first bulleted link as no longer valid. Added SafeLives and deleted remaining three, as well as bullet format. NEW SECTION: Children as victims of domestic abuse This entire section is new. Abuse of older people Added paragraph before the ‘For further information see’ – Starts ‘Section 42’. Deleted the paragraph ‘Some useful multi-agency case examples’ – this was previously the last paragraph before the ‘For further information’ part. ‘For further information see’ – deleted Action on Elder Abuse and replaced with Hourglass signpost and link. Deleted CPS. Added policy guidance link to CPS; added APP links to Adults at risk; vulnerable adults; vulnerable adult abuse investigation and safeguarding adults boards. Children to parent abuse Removed the last sentence of the first paragraph and replaced with ‘the definition includes those with a parent relationship with the child, so would cover foster parents, for example. ‘For further resources’ – Family Lives link corrected; Respect signpost and link added; PAARS deleted. ‘For further information see’ – Deleted CPS and Home Office. Changed SafeLives link and signposting and deleted list format. Sibling abuse First paragraph/first sentence took the link off the definition of domestic abuse. Deleted the next paragraph. |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | Victim safety and support |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | Call handler and front counter staff response to a domestic abuse incident |
Removed: For further information see College of Policing (2015) The Essex Body Worn Video Trial, Owens, Mann and McKenna. Added: See NPCC Body Worn Video Guidance (2023) |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | First response | Throughout the module, where the abbreviation HBV is used it was swapped to HBA Body-worn video Under further information see, the two bullets were deleted and the reference NPCC (2023) Body-Worn Video guidance was added and a new link included. Why a victim might appear unwilling to engage Beneath the ‘You might be thinking’ tables, under ‘See also’ the last bullet was deleted and the links updated. Unsupportive victims and the evidence-led approach The Joint NPCC and CPS checklist link has been updated. Under ‘See’ the three checklist links have been corrected. First accounts and body-worn video Under ‘See body-worn video’ the link has been updated. Victim’s views on obtaining a restraining order and victim personal statement MG5 replaced with ‘case summary’ x 2. Last paragraph wording insertion: ‘officers must evidence impact on the victim in the initial testimony. It is one of the points to prove for controlling or coercive behaviour. They will be able to make a more detailed…this is a right under the MoJ Code of Practice for Victims’. Injury photos Paragraph inserted, comes second after bullets. ‘It is important for officers to be aware of skin tone bias when assessing injuries and requesting photographs of injuries on darker skin. Differences in redness and bruising visibility need to be taken into account when photos are taken. This may require use of a specialist photographer.’ Free national helpline details Link updated and Women’s Aid removed from the Refuge helpline. Welsh Women’s Aid link updated. Referrals to voluntary sector support agencies First paragraph. Deletion of text from ‘the police should’ to ‘explicit consent from the victim to do so.’ Replaced with ‘a victim has the right to access support services, whether or not they choose to report the crime to the police. Officers should be aware of and able to refer victims to appropriate support services, including those by and for minority groups. They should take into consideration any increased risk to the victim that a referral might create.’ Abbreviation in brackets (BME) removed. Paragraph commencing ‘For information on more specialist services, the Women’s Aid’ – Gold Book link corrected. Paragraph commencing ‘Officer should ensure not…’ Added the last sentence: ‘Officers should also keep in mind the possibility that a perpetrator may try to find the victim through a missing person’s report.’ NCDV – added last sentence: ‘These services are means tested.’ CPS DA guidelines – changed Annex D to E and corrected the link. |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | First response national decision model (NDM) tool | Corrected a broken link /app/major-investigation-and-public-protection/domestic-abuse/victim-safety-and-support#keeping-the-victim-informed |
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| Major investigation and public protection > Domestic abuse | First response quick reference guide – domestic abuse | 7 broken links corrected to internal sections of DA APP. |