Information about the role of a domestic abuse investigator, including the role purpose, key responsibilities and the skills required.
About the role
A domestic abuse investigator is a public protection position within the investigation sector of policing. It's a service deliverer role in the policing professional profiles.
Role purpose
The domestic abuse investigator is a specially trained professionalising investigations programme (PIP) 1 or PIP 2 investigator. They are responsible for undertaking investigation duties to identify the perpetrators of domestic abuse and any associated offences, supporting victims and any children and achieving the best outcomes for victims and their families.
They ensure that victims and any children are safeguarded and that any evidence obtained is recorded, secured and preserved in a timely and appropriate manner.
Key responsibilities
- Maintaining a suspect-focused approach by prioritising examination of suspect behaviour, using specialist knowledge of offending patterns to guide evidence gathering and build strong, accountable cases in a timely manner.
- Ensuring procedural justice for domestic abuse victims and any children through effective communication and engagement.
- Interviewing witnesses, victims (and any children) and suspects and gathering all required evidence in relation to domestic abuse investigations in accordance with PIP standards, generating further lines of enquiry to bring offenders to justice.
- Using intelligence-led methods to identify hidden risk factors (such as coercive control indicators, stalking behaviours, digital threats) to inform risk assessment or relevant lines of enquiry.
- Completing dynamic, evidence-based risk assessments at the outset and throughout the investigation, reassessing risk at important stages such as charge, bail decisions and at the conclusion of the investigation to formulate risk management plans.
- Ensuring safety planning and safeguarding measures are adapted to reflect any increase, shift or continuation in risk, irrespective of the investigation outcome, to protect victims and their families.
- Ensuring appropriate use of specific civil and criminal protective orders to safeguard victims.
- Providing information regarding additional services available to victims and their families, including signposting to support agencies, and explaining criminal justice and coronial procedures, so that they can access all available services and support.
- Working in partnership with agencies such as independent domestic violence adviser (IDVA) services, social workers and health professionals, to develop networks, enable best use of resources, enable joined up approaches to services, and drive safeguarding of victims.
- Ensuring all materials, including exhibits generated, are seized, examined and retained in accordance with legislation and policy.
- Preparing reports on the outcome of investigations and managing case files within good practice procedures to ensure there is an accurate audit trail.
- Contributing to multi-agency risk assessments conference (MARAC) by recording information and intelligence that will be relevant to the safeguarding of victims and any children and managing the risk posed by suspects and offenders.
- Contributing to the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), providing updates on offenders, and updating records to support and enable joined up public agency management of offenders.
Competencies, values and core skills
The competency and values framework (CVF) provides clear expectations for everyone working in policing. It describes the behaviours required by police officers and staff to be effective in their roles and uphold the Code of Ethics for policing.
Competencies
The CVF has six competencies, which are split into levels. These levels can be used flexibly to allow for a better fit with frontline and non-frontline policing roles, and at different levels of seniority. This ensures that there is consistency throughout all the policing professional profiles. Some roles may contain different CVF levels due to the specialist nature of the role. Those working at higher levels should also fulfil the requirements of the lower levels.
This role should be operating at or working towards the following competencies.
- We are emotionally aware – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We take ownership – Level 1: practitioner
- We collaborate – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We support and inspire – Level 1: practitioner
- We analyse critically – Level 2: supervisor or middle manager
- We are innovative and open-minded – Level 1: practitioner
Values
The CVF has three values that apply to everyone in policing, regardless of their role or seniority.
Core skills
All roles in policing have nine core skills in common. These are split into levels that represent the different levels of policing. This role should be operating at or working towards the following core skills.
- Communicating and influencing – Level 1
- Problem solving – Level 1
- Performance management – Level 1
- Relationship management – Level 1
- Change management – Level 1
- Managing people – Level 1
- Managing resources – Level 1
- Planning – Level 1
- Use of IT – Level 1
Education, qualifications and experience
Previous education, qualifications and experience
Where the role holder is required to investigate volume and priority domestic abuse cases:
- successfully completed applicable entry training and PIP 1 registration by undertaking relevant learning, development and portfolio submission to evidence competence against relevant assessment criteria
- experience in interviewing to PIP 1 standards
- experience in conducting volume and priority crime investigations
Where the role holder is required to investigate serious and complex domestic abuse cases:
- hold applicable PIP 2 registration by undertaking relevant learning, development and portfolio submission to evidence competence against relevant assessment criteria
- experience in interviewing to PIP 2 standards
- experience in conducting serious and complex crime investigations
If not already achieved, the following qualification can be undertaken in-role:
- College of Policing public protection foundation training (for example, DA matters)
In-role education, qualifications and experience
- Successful completion of domestic abuse investigation training (such as DA matters investigation Hydra).
- Knowledge and understanding of authorised professional practice (APP) in relation to the investigation of domestic and child abuse.
- Awareness of the CPS and NPCC joint justice plan for domestic abuse.
- Understanding of Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the College’s domestic abuse risk assessment (DARA/DASH).
- Understanding of the statutory guidance for safeguarding of children contained within Working Together.
- Understanding of the Care Act 2014 in relation to adults at risk.
Continuing professional development
Continuing professional development (CPD) enables everyone in policing to develop and gain recognition for their professional skills, knowledge and competence.
CPD ensures that we continue to provide high-quality policing to keep the public safe and help to drive career aspirations. Discussion of CPD is usually included as part of professional development review (PDR) conversations.
To achieve effective performance in the role, the following standards, training, registration, accreditation and qualifications should be met.
Learning and accreditation
- Assessed competence against relevant professional standards for this role is required to achieve PIP registration. Maintenance of this registration requires the demonstration of continued competence against professional standards as well as evidence of CPD, in line with the College’s model.
- Complete all core training and learning as required by the force.
- Any exemptions to learning and accreditation requirements are at chief constable discretion, in line with the local force policy.
Professional development
This role should consider the following CPD:
- undertaking training courses in domestic abuse matters and/or coercive control
- maintaining PIP registration by keeping a record of recent experience of conducting different types of serious and complex investigations to evidence knowledge and skills gained
- keeping up-to-date with changing legislation and current national priorities relating to all areas within public protection and how these might affect domestic abuse cases
- keeping up-to-date with all technological advances that might facilitate offenders in committing crimes
- analysing the impact of the Independent Police Complaints Commission’s (IPCC) learning the lessons reports relating to domestic abuse cases
- familiarising oneself with National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) reports on child protection issues and associated inspections
- reading the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) guidance relating to cases of domestic abuse and identifying how to apply it to working practices
- undertaking reflective practice to support own emotional psychological welfare
- maintaining a working knowledge of local, regional and national specialist support agencies for referrals
- developing a working knowledge of multi-agency responsibilities
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