Checklists, guides and support (Appendix C)

The checklists are intended to be used as prompts and should be read alongside the more detailed content.

Risk management 

Checklist: Risk management 

Any risk management processes should:

• extend beyond the initial investigation, through the court process and beyond
• include a locally agreed risk management framework, for example, proportionality, legality, accountability, necessity and based on best intelligence or information at the time (PLANBI)
• provide officers and staff with possible actions which are proportionate to the risk and aimed at specific risk variables
• describe a tactical menu of intervention options for victims and offenders corresponding to each grading of risk – standard, medium and high
• be able to be adapted from a standard response to meet the needs of a serious and complex case, allowing for professional judgement and decisions to be made based on individual cases and problem solving in partnership
• remain dynamic so that significant changes may be reflected easily within assessments and management plans
• be subject to review at set intervals which are appropriate to the risk grading
• assist those in the criminal justice system to make decisions, for example, those which depend on information about the public interest and risk to victims and others
• be linked to multi-agency risk management processes which focus on high-risk cases, potential escalation and/or repeat incidents, for example, multi-agency risk assessment conferences for domestic abuse (MARACs)
• provide clarity on which internal unit and/or external agency takes the lead, or is responsible for certain actions as part of the risk management plan
• include the review of actions from the risk management plan as part of ongoing safety planning
• be communicated to the victim(s) to ensure that they are kept up to date throughout the process, where appropriate and achievable

Checklist: Reducing risk in identified cases

Officers should use the following measures to reduce risk in identified cases, as appropriate, by:

• implementing legal interventions (for example, arrest of suspect, use of restraining orders under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
• enforcing breaches of bail conditions and court orders
• implementing fast response systems in line with local police force policy
• investigating instances of witness intimidation promptly and thoroughly
• assisting the victim to improve security at their home, go to safety planning
• arranging for the victim to be taken to a place of safety, where appropriate
• being alert to the possibility that the perpetrator has reported the victim as missing and/or mentally ill so that the police will find the victim for them – go to associated investigations, missing persons
• issuing domestic violence protection notices (DVPNs) and applying for domestic violence protection orders (DVPOs)
• applying for specialist civil orders, for example, violent offender orders, sexual harm prevention orders or sexual harm orders
• assisting victims to develop and implement their safety plans
• encouraging victims to access support
• making appropriate referrals to support agencies
• referring identified high-risk cases, potential escalation and/or repeat incidents to a MARAC or local equivalent
• linking into prison monitoring and intelligence processes when a perpetrator is in prison, whether on remand or serving a sentence
• ensuring that both a victim safety plan and a perpetrator management plan are established prior to the offender’s release
• liaising with established multi-agency perpetrator management processes where applicable, for example, multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) or integrated offender management (IOM)
• ensuring that property exchange or recovery can occur safely, see assisting with the recovery of property

Initial contact

Checklist: Key considerations for front counter staff taking a report of domestic abuse

If the report is made by a victim:

• take them out of public view to reduce the risk of the abuser seeing them
• establish if the victim and any children are at immediate risk, for example, if they are fleeing the perpetrator
• establish if the person making the report is subject to time constraints and flag this to the responding officer if applicable so that the report can be prioritised
• if the victim is unable to wait for an officer to become available to speak to them, establish when and how they can be contacted without placing them at further risk
• if they are believed to be at risk of serious harm if they leave without being seen by an officer, response should be prioritised

If the report is made by another person, for example, a concerned family member, friend or neighbour, they may also be at risk if the perpetrator discovers that they have reported the abuse and similar considerations apply.

Call handler quick reference guide: domestic abuse

Ensure immediate safety

• Prioritise safety of the victim and children.
• Identify if any immediate risk or time constraints.
• Identify if any parties in need of immediate medical assistance and request if required.
• Give safety, first aid or other appropriate advice.
• If suspect still present at the scene, keep caller on the line so background noise is recorded.
• If suspect has left the scene, keep caller on the line, advise to secure premises, and agree key word to signify return of suspect.
• If call is cut off, urgently reassess call grading.
• Remember to keep the caller informed of dispatch and arrival at the scene.

Gather information from the caller

Confirm details throughout and seek clarification if unclear.

Obtain standard details of incidents and parties involved. In addition, you should ask if: 

• there are any children or vulnerable adults normally resident at the address living in the household and if they are safe
• there is any history of domestic abuse and if so, whether there has been a previous referral to MARAC
• any weapons have been used or are available to the suspect
• anyone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• any party has communication difficulties or special needs
• any court orders or bail conditions apply

Obtain a description of the suspect

Record the caller’s account verbatim, along with details of demeanour of the caller and any background noise.

Go to Checklist: Information gathering

Equip the attending officer with information 

Officers need to know about all information relevant to risk assessment. They also need to know anything which can help them to better understand the incident and the context.

You should make the appropriate background checks for previous domestic abuse history and other risk-related information:

• IT and/or paper-based systems – Police National Computer (PNC), Police National Database (PND), ViSOR
• check for markers or alerts, including MARAC flag
• previous risk assessments
• bail conditions and civil or criminal court orders
• child protection information

Provide details to the officer of: 

• any children or vulnerable adults present or normally resident at the address
• any communication difficulties or special needs
• results of background checks
• any factors affecting nature of response, for example, injury, weapons (especially firearms), drugs or alcohol
• description of the suspect
• incident exactly as described by caller

If the suspect is believed to have left the local area, this should be specifically flagged to the officer so that contact can be established and appropriate information exchanged with relevant police forces to ensure victim safety.

Go to Checklist: Details to be provided to the attending officer.

All CAD entries must be closed with a reference number. They should not be closed until contact has been made with the victim and a risk assessment carried out.

Checklist: Information gathering

Full details of the incident and of all parties involved should be recorded and flagged appropriately on the incident log, in line with local policy. Call handlers or report takers should seek, record and disseminate the information listed below. In situations where fast deployment is required, an abridged checklist may be used to identify risks associated with the deployment, and then further information can be gathered once the immediate risk has been managed.

• Location and identity of the caller or person making the report.
• Location of the incident.
• Location of the suspect, victim and children.
• Whether the parties are injured.
• Severity of any injury and whether medical assistance is required.
• Identity of all parties involved including the victim, children and suspect (for example, names (correctly spelt), sex, dates of birth, home addresses, telephone numbers).
• Whether there are any children normally resident at the address and, where present, if they are safe.
• Whether any weapons have been used (in particular firearms or knives, although any object used as a weapon is relevant).
• Whether any weapons are available to the suspect and whether the suspect or another household member holds a licence for a firearm.
• Whether communication difficulties exist, for example, if English is not the caller’s first language and officers will require an interpreter.
• Whether there are any special needs, for example, mental or physical disability.
• In what capacity the parties are involved.
• Whether any person present appears drunk or has taken drugs.
• Whether there is any history of domestic abuse or other relevant offending.
• Description of the suspect.
• If the suspect is believed to have left the area and, if so, where they are believed to have gone.
• Whether any court orders apply.
• First account of what the caller says has occurred (recording it verbatim).
• Details of the demeanour of the victim, suspect and others present, and background noise (including shouting, words spoken).

Call handlers should make appropriate checks of IT and/or paper-based systems for any previous reported domestic abuse history and other relevant information:

• previous risk assessments
• PNC checks for both the suspect and the victim (paying particular attention to any markers or alerts),
• the PND
• bail conditions
• civil injunctions
• court orders relating to child contact
• child protection intelligence systems – child protection register (in Wales), local authority children’s services information on children subject to a child protection plan (in England)
• ViSOR
• any record of current or previous MARAC involvement with the victim, for example, if they have a MARAC flag on the local force system, where such a flag is used

Checklist: Deployment

Call handlers should:

• prioritise the safety of those at the incident, members of the public and officers
• ensure that medical assistance is en route, where appropriate
• make sure that support (backup) is available for the officer(s) attending the incident, where appropriate
• inform the caller when an officer(s) has been dispatched
• inform the officer attending of all relevant information (see checklist below)
• inform the caller when police have arrived at the scene so that the officer(s) can be safely admitted to the premises

Checklist: Details to be provided to the attending officer

Information to be provided to the attending should include:

• details of any children present
• the results of the IT and/or paper-based search outlined above
• whether the victim has a MARAC flag
• any communication difficulties (language, hearing, speech)
• any other factors that may affect the police response, for example, injury, the presence of weapons (especially firearms), drug or alcohol use
• a description of the suspect, where necessary
• whether supervisors are aware of the incident, in accordance with local policy

Victim support and welfare

Checklist: Taking comprehensive withdrawal statements

A withdrawal statement should contain the following information:

• confirmation of whether the original statement given to the police was true – if the original account has to be amended, an explanation for this should be included
• whether the victim has been put under pressure to withdraw
• nature of the original allegation (if not fully covered in a previous statement)
• victim’s reasons for withdrawing the allegation
• with whom they have discussed the case – particularly anyone who has advised them (a solicitor, for example)
• whether any civil proceedings have been, or are likely to be, instigated
• impact on the victim’s life and that of any children if the case continues

Evidence gathering

Checklist: Lines of enquiry

Officers should consider these potential lines of enquiry:

• history of the relationship
• previous incidents of abuse, including those with prior partners, for example records of previous calls to the police
• local police intelligence systems, national and international systems, including the PNC, PND, and ViSOR
• foreign national criminal conviction checks if the suspect, victim or witness is a foreign national
• incidents of sexual abuse not previously disclosed
• incidents that have been witnessed by children
• incidents witnessed by other family members, friends, colleagues
• witnesses to whom first disclosure may have been made
• house-to-house enquiries
• incidents that have occurred outside the home or in public
• previous threats made to the victim, children, family members or friends
• child contact agreements or disputes
• civil orders
• medical information that may constitute evidence – consent should be obtained where relevant
• asking about injuries that are not immediately visible, for example those concealed by clothing or hair, or older healed injuries that could be confirmed by further enquiry or medical investigation
• evidence held by other agencies such as housing services, children’s social care departments, education, probation and medical professionals
• evidence held from any data source on previous victims
• evidence of social isolation, for example, lack of contact between the victim and their family, friends, neighbours or schools (officers might also ascertain whether medical appointments have not been made or kept, or if the suspect has accompanied the victim to medical appointments)
• bank statements which could show evidence of financial control by the perpetrator
• phone and email records
• social media

Checklist: Spotlight on controlling or coercive behaviour

In addition to standard lines of enquiry, officers investigating a potential offence of controlling or coercive behaviour under the Serious Crime Act 2015 s 76 should focus on identifying a pattern of behaviour across different types of evidence. Much of it will be evidence of the victim’s and perpetrator’s day to day living and their interaction.

Types of evidence which may be useful include:

• records of communication between the victim and perpetrator, for example emails, phone records, text messages, social media
• audio or visual recordings of interaction between the victim and perpetrator, demonstrating body language and tone, for example 999 recordings, CCTV, BWV footage
• local enquiries, for example neighbours, regular deliveries, postal services, window cleaner
• witness testimony, for example from family and friends, as to observed behaviour by both parties and its effect and impact
• diaries kept by the victim and/or children
• records of lifestyle and household, including photographic evidence of the scene
• evidence of isolation, for example lack of contact with family and friends, withdrawal from social activities and clubs
• records of interaction with services which show the perpetrator adopting a dominant role, for example always accompanying the victim to banking or medical appointments
• bank records showing financial control
• medical records
• GPS tracking devices installed on mobile phones, tablets, vehicles
• care plan, where the perpetrator has caring responsibilities

These are not exhaustive and any evidence which shows a pattern of control or coercion is relevant.

For further information, go to:

• Home Office Controlling or Coercive Behaviour Statutory Guidance Framework
• Crown Prosecution Service 

Checklist: Gaining a first account from a victim or witness

Although an MG11 (section 9 statement) is the most desirable form of victim account, it is not the only potentially admissible account. Body-worn video, a 999 call or a PNB entry are all potentially admissible in an evidence-led prosecution, that is, a prosecution based on hearsay or circumstantial evidence, or featuring a hostile witness.

When speaking to a child:

• consider using an intermediary from the outset – children may find it intimidating to talk to police officers
• consider the language used – they may find it difficult to understand legal or technical words

Taking the account

• Ensure each party is spoken to separately and out of earshot of others.
• Explain the investigation processes and procedures to them and make it clear that the police take these matters seriously.
• Explain that support is available to them.
• Obtain a first account as soon as practicable after the event, when the witness may be most able to recall the incident.
• Record first accounts given by witnesses, especially those relating to suspect descriptions, for example, clothing worn.
• Make an accurate record of everything that is said by all parties.
• Explore the question of risk and potential risk with all witnesses, especially risk to the victim, any children and the suspect.
• Consider visually recording the first account from the victim and/or witnesses in serious cases and cases with vulnerable or intimidated witnesses.
• If a victim decides not to make a formal complaint, officers should record this in their pocket notebook but should not ask the victim to sign it. Even if a victim does not make a formal allegation, officers should still investigate thoroughly and record a crime if there is reasonable cause to believe an offence has been committed.

Go to victim interviews for a comprehensive list of information to be obtained in a full victim statement.

Considerations for the officer taking the account:

• Consider that the victim may be distressed and that it is not appropriate to ask them what course of action they wish the police to take – it is never appropriate to ask if they want the perpetrator to be arrested.
• Remember that the victim may be subject to controlling or coercive behaviour and this may affect their response and attitude towards the officer.
• Note that previous withdrawals of support for a prosecution should not adversely influence the decision to arrest.
• Consider the individual needs of victims and witnesses, for example, disability or cultural heritage.

Follow-up to taking the account:

• Provide the victim with referral details of independent advocacy or outreach services where available, for example, independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs). Not all IDVA services accept self-referrals.
• Preserve any written notes made during initial victim or witness interviews in line with Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 requirements for unused material.
• If a victim is taken to a refuge or other place of safety, never disclose this to the suspect or their representative, as this not only places the victim at risk but also refuge staff and other users.
• Brief interviewing officers on useful lines of questioning if the suspect is to be formally interviewed later by a different officer ‒ for further information, go to suspect interviews.

Checklist: Statement of the first officer at the scene

Statements should, where relevant, cover the officer’s initial appraisal of:

• victim’s injuries
• suspect’s injuries
• presence of children and any injuries they have sustained
• any damage to property
• signs of ongoing disturbance on arrival at the scene, for example, shouting heard at the premises
• observations of the physical scene, for example, overturned furniture, broken ornaments, marks on clothing
• evidence of disturbance outside the property
• demeanour of the suspect, victim and witnesses, including children
• any details which may be indicative of controlling or coercive behaviour – this may be a combination of comments by either the perpetrator or the victim, body language or any other details observed
• identification of risk factors – this may include the officer’s opinion (supported by reasoning) of the current or potential risk to the victim(s) and any children, or to the suspect, for example, suicide
• allegations made by the victim
• comments made by the victim or witnesses at the scene – if they do not subsequently make a statement, these may still be admissible as res gestae or hearsay
• unsolicited comments or significant statements made by the suspect

Checklist: Protecting the scene

Where applicable, officers should:

• seek advice in complex cases
• note that the victim is often the primary source of evidence and should be treated as such, with due regard to their safety, state of mind and ability to cope with forensic requests
• note that the suspect and other persons, including children, at the premises may also be sources of evidence
• secure, preserve and control the scene to limit any access until they can adequately assess the situation
• remove people and animals from the immediate scene of the incident, and, ideally, from the whole area
• establish physical secondary scene parameters – potentially the whole of the premises
• note that the suspect’s actions following the incident may create further sites of forensic interest
• consider erecting cordons and putting in place a loggist to record persons entering and leaving (depending on the severity of the incident)
• consider any potential areas of contamination that could compromise the integrity of evidential material
• request a CSI to attend or record the reasons why a CSI was not called or did not attend
• establish a work base in a safe area of the premises
• ensure the scene is photographed or visually recorded as soon as possible
• secure and preserve CCTV evidence if it exists
• secure and preserve mobile phones or computer equipment

Suspect strategy

Checklist: Custody plan

When detaining a domestic abuse suspect, custody staff should:

• ensure the presence of an appropriate adult as required by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Code C 
• consider the suspect’s right to a telephone call and assess the potential to harass and intimidate the victim, children, family members and potential witnesses – the phone call can be denied or delayed in connection with an indictable offence if an inspector (or above) is of the view that its exercise may result in interference with or physical harm to other people, but the restriction should be proportionate and last no longer than necessary (Code C, paragraph 5.6 and Annex B, paragraphs 1 and 2)
• ensure any telephone calls are supervised – they can be terminated if being abused (Code C, paragraph 5.7)
• request that telephone calls are made in English so that they can be adequately monitored – if the suspect does not speak English, consider whether it may be appropriate to require the attendance of an interpreter to assist with supervising the call, for example where HBA is suspected and the victim may be at risk from other family or community members
• record if a suspect threatens to commit suicide, or a risk assessment indicates a suicide risk, and include this both in the custody risk assessment process for the care of the suspect and pre-release. Be aware that there is a statistically higher risk of suicide by perpetrators of domestic abuse after they come to the notice of the police. In cases of suicide risk, just as in case of physical injury, a referral must be made to the custody health practitioner. 
• consider suicide threats by the suspect as a risk factor for further harm being caused to the victim and children – include in any decision-making process for police bail and ensure those responsible for victim risk assessment are made aware
• record significant statements on the custody record and invite the suspect to sign and verify them
• record injuries to the suspect and any explanation offered
• arrange for an appropriate healthcare professional to examine the suspect if injury is complained of or observed and record any findings on the custody record – this should also be done if the suspect raises self-defence in interview
• document on the custody record any intimidating, aggressive or threatening behaviour exhibited by the suspect
• ensure that custody CCTV is reviewed and retained if it is likely to be of evidential value, for example if it captures relevant conduct and demeanour of the suspect on arrival in custody or any comments made by them within the custody area
• consider placing suspects arrested for breach of the peace before the next available court

Arresting officers should ensure that:

• photographs of the suspect are obtained, including any clothing or jewellery that might have inflicted a specific injury to the victim
• evidence is seized appropriately (particularly in circumstances where the suspect or their associates have access to the scene) and, where possible, taken to the custody suite and recorded on the custody record – care should be taken to avoid evidence contamination
• photographic evidence of injuries and/or the scene is available in the custody suite and used in the interviewing and investigation processes
• any breach of order is identified and dealt with robustly 

Checklist: Considerations when using interpreters in domestic abuse cases

• Make every effort to source an accredited interpreter, check the identity of the interpreter and whether they have a disclosure and barring service (DBS) disclosure certificate and can present it. All interpreters (excluding telephone interpreting) are required to be vetted to NPPV3.
• Check that the suspect, victim or witnesses are not known to the interpreter, where possible.
• If the interpreter is known to the victim, witness or suspect, this should not be in anything other than a professional capacity – this is particularly important in cases of suspected HBA and only accredited interpreters should be used in such circumstances.
• Check that the interpreter has no other interest in the case, whether personal, financial or commercial.
• Where possible, select the interpreter to conform to reasonable criteria set by the suspect, victim or witnesses, which may include a preference for specific sex, religion, regional origin, political affiliation and cultural background.
• Where possible, use different interpreters for the suspect, victim and witnesses.
• General guidance is that interpreters living in close proximity to the interview premises should be preferred, but in domestic abuse and 'honour'-based abused (HBA) cases it may be prudent to use interpreters who meet the criteria of the suspect, victim or witness but who do not live within the immediate community. There is a potential risk that they may seek to influence the interview or account, or put pressure on the victim or witness to allow the matter to be dealt with within the local community or family rather than by the police.
• Interpreters should be allowed to interrupt the normal flow of the interview to ask the officer for repetition, clarification or to alert the officer to the possibility of a cultural inference that might have been assumed. Interruptions should be explained to all parties.

Making bail decisions 

Checklist: Pre-release considerations

Before a suspect is released from a police station officers should:

• inform the victim of the suspect’s impending release, regardless of whether the suspect has been bailed or not, and record this notification
• check if the suspect is in possession of keys to the victim’s house or car and remove them if so
• if the suspect offers a bail address with a previous or current partner, check not only that the person is happy for the suspect to be bailed there, but also that there is no history of domestic abuse – a curfew should never be imposed at an address where there is or has been domestic abuse
• update the risk assessment and safety plan
• ensure that all area control rooms and intelligence databases are updated regarding bail conditions, in case of future calls
• check if the suspect has a firearms or shotgun licence and consider conducting a licensing visit or withdrawing the licence in accordance with the Home Office Guide on Firearms Licensing Law
• make every effort to ensure that a suspect charged following a domestic abuse incident is placed before the court at the earliest opportunity, preferably before a specialist domestic violence court (SDVC), and that bail is for the shortest period that local service level agreements (SLAs) will allow ‒ this minimises the opportunities a suspect has to intimidate witnesses

Where a suspect is granted bail, they should be informed of the following points before they are released:

• it is the suspect’s responsibility (not the victim’s) to comply fully with any bail conditions
• any breaches of bail will be treated as such even if the suspect and/or victim state that they have reconciled or the victim has made contact with the suspect
• it is the CPS (not the victim) who makes decisions in relation to charging
• it is the CPS (not the victim) who makes decisions in relation to prosecution

Supervising officers should monitor the ways in which victims are updated about police bail decisions and decisions relating to charges, including where no charges are brought.

Support services and charities

• National Domestic Violence Helpline (Run by Refuge): 0808 2000 247
• All Wales Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Helpline (Run by Welsh Women’s Aid)
• Live Fear Free Welsh Women's Aid: 0808 80 10 800
• Refuge operate a network of refuges and community-based support services across the country for women and children who need advocacy and support and a safe place to stay.
• Women’s Aid support a network of specialist services. Specialist refuge and support services also exist for victims of domestic abuse who might experience additional barriers to reporting or escaping domestic abuse. 
• The Women’s Aid Gold Book can be accessed through a subscription service. Forces may wish to consider making this option available to officers.
• The ManKind Initiative has a directory of services for male victims called the Oak Book, which is available by contacting them.
• The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) helps with applying for emergency injunctions and is usually able to do so within 24 hours of first being contacted. See civil orders for further information. These services are means tested.
• Rights of Women provides advice about the law to women and have a family law advice line staffed by volunteer legal professionals.
• Women’s Aid also provide useful links to legal advice.

For further information, go to:

• CPS domestic abuse guidelines for prosecutors, annex E – National support organisations