First response

The following information provides guidance to first response officers attending a domestic abuse incident.

First response officers have a dual role to play when attending domestic call-outs. They should:

• recognise signs of abuse and the need for safety planning to protect victims (or potential victims) and prevent offences from occurring in the longer-term
• identify criminal offences so that offenders can be brought to justice and dealt with robustly within the judicial system

Response officers should:

• ensure immediate safety
• build rapport
• carry out an initial investigation
• identify risk
• initiate support and protection (initial safety planning)
• ensure a good handover takes place, where applicable

The first responder remains responsible for investigation and safety planning unless and until the case is handed over to a specialist or other investigating officer.

Officers should apply a positive approach to resolving the call-out, which may range from arrest to other forms of action. See arrest and other positive approaches.

Domestic abuse training forms part of the core public protection learning programme for first responders. It is a management obligation to ensure that domestic abuse training is provided.

Ensure immediate safety

En route to scene

Obtaining a full picture of the situation, the family and their previous history enables officers to better deal with the incident, manage the offender and protect any vulnerable people at the address.

Officers should obtain all relevant information from the call handler about the incident and parties involved to enable initial risk assessment prior to arrival at the scene.

The domestic abuse incident to which an officer is responding is unlikely to be the first, even if police have not been called before.

It is vital that officers attending domestic abuse incidents deal with both the incident that led to the call for service and the previous incidents.

Evidence of previous abusive behaviour may be valuable in proving the offence of controlling or coercive behaviour under the Serious Crime Act 2015 section 76. Domestic abuse is often like an iceberg, with police dealing only with the tip – it is important that officers also recognise where there are underlying issues, because these are key to understanding risk of harm to the victim.

All relevant information means:

• information gathered from the caller – see call handler checklist: information gathering
• appropriate checks of IT and/or paper-based systems for previous reported domestic abuse history
  • previous risk assessments
  • PNC checks for both the suspect and the victim (paying particular attention to any markers or alerts)
  • bail conditions
  • license conditions
  • civil injunctions, domestic violence protection notices (DVPNs) and domestic violence protection orders (DVPOs), and other court orders, including those relating to child contact
  • child protection intelligence systems
  • child protection register (in Wales) or local authority children’s services information on children subject to a child protection plan (in England)
  • ViSOR
  • PND

See call handler checklist: details to be provided to the attending officer for the complete list of information to be provided.

Actions on arrival at the scene

The first priority of an officer should be to protect all people present from injury or further harm. This includes the victim, children, witnesses, police officers and the suspect.

Children can be victims of domestic abuse when they are directly targeted for violence/abuse or if they are accidentally assaulted in an incident involving others. Children can also be seriously affected by witnessing domestic abuse. Officers should consider the nature of the incident that the child(ren) may have experienced or witnessed and ensure full details are recorded for transmission to the local children’s safeguarding department.

In serious cases, they should consider powers to take a child into emergency care under the Children Act 1989 section 46.

Body-worn video

Officers should also be prepared to gather evidence as soon as they arrive at the scene. Body-worn video (BWV) recordings can provide excellent evidence, particularly in criminal proceedings, as they:

• have significant dramatic impact
• record the scene exactly
• record the demeanour of the parties
• accurately record significant comments at the scene

There is some good evidence to show that where officers responding to domestic abuse are equipped with body-worn cameras the proportion of sanctioned detections resulting in a criminal charge increases. The impact of attending officers wearing BWV on the views and experiences of victims has not yet been explored however. Forces may want to consider whether officers equipped with BWV should be routinely assigned to domestic abuse incidents.

If body-worn video equipment is available to officers responding to a domestic incident, its use should always be considered.

For further information see NPCC (2023) Body-Worn Video guidance.

Where the suspect has left the scene, a description should be circulated and every effort made to locate them. Officers should ensure that victims and any children are safe while suspects are being located.

Powers of entry

Officers may need to enter premises when responding to domestic abuse incidents.

When access to property is denied

A victim may deny officers entry to the property on arrival, either when the victim has called 999 themselves or when the call has come from a member of the public. This may be because the perpetrator is inside the house prompting or threatening the victim to send the police away. The victim may tell officers that the perpetrator has left when this is not the case. The victim may also be subject to controlling or coercive behaviour which extends beyond any immediate physical threat. Officers should use judgement to assess why the victim is refusing or is reluctant to engage with them. If it appears to officers that it is out of fear, this in itself should be seen and recorded as a risk factor.

The perpetrator may also refuse entry, claiming that nothing has happened. Officers should ask to see any other person in the house. Where this is refused but officers have reason to believe that there are others in the house, this may give grounds to invoke a power of entry under section PACE 17(e). If other persons are seen by officers and indicate that there is nothing wrong, officers should again use judgement to assess if fear may be a factor.

Where access to the property is denied, this does not necessarily mean that no entry is possible. It does, however, mean that any decision to enter in spite of objection by the victim or another person must be legally justifiable. Officers should accurately record both the power of entry invoked and the reasons why it is believed to apply.

Concern for welfare alone has been held to be insufficient to justify entry under PACE section 17(e). The purpose of ‘saving life or limb’ in that provision has been interpreted as meaning that there should be a ‘fear that something has happened or may happen which would involve serious injury to a person’ (Syed v DPP [2010] EWHC 81 (Admin)).

Considering the use of powers of entry will sometimes involve very fine judgements and officers may wish to seek advice from a domestic abuse expert or supervisor

Medical treatment and forensic medical examination

Officers should make an immediate assessment of the need for first aid or other medical assistance such as an ambulance. They should also consider the need to request and/or complete an early evidence kit (EEK), according to local procedures.

If a victim refuses medical help, officers should document injuries in as much detail as possible. This could include the use of a body map, photographs and BWV as well as a written description. Victims may sometimes refuse treatment because they are concerned about leaving their children. Officers should consider safe and appropriate care for children and reassure the victim that they will be kept safe.

It may be necessary to ensure that the victim receives medical treatment at a hospital, health centre or sexual assault referral centre (SARC). If this is the case, a police officer should accompany the victim in order to maintain the continuity and integrity of the evidence, and to coordinate any investigations undertaken. It is important that all materials (medical items, packaging, protective clothing) used in the examination are from recognised and approved evidence collection kits. Where the use of surgery or hospital equipment is unavoidable, a control sample should be obtained, for example, a hospital swab, and any blankets or sheets should be seized and individually packaged and prepared as an exhibit at the scene.

If a forensic medical examination is necessary, the officer or crime scene investigator (CSI) should explain the reason to the victim. The forensic physician is responsible for obtaining consent. The victim should be asked if they have any preference regarding the gender of the doctor. They should be informed that their preference of doctor might not be possible, depending upon the local availability of doctors.

When separate individuals involved in the same case require a forensic medical examination, different forensic physicians at different locations should examine them. Where this is not possible, forensic cleaning should take place along with other measures to avoid any cross-contamination of evidence.

Officers and CSIs should avoid cross-contamination of scenes and should, where possible, avoid attending both the scene and any forensic medical examination. For issues about the forensic medical examination of children, see APP on child abuse.

An appointed forensic physician or other suitably trained and authorised health service personnel should conduct forensic medical examinations in suitably equipped medical rooms.

Duties in relation to safeguarding

Children

A child is any person under the age of 18. The police have a duty to protect children from harm. In all investigations the principle that the welfare of the child is paramount should be observed. Officers should seek to establish whether any children ordinarily resident in the household or present are subject to child protection plans.

Officers investigating domestic abuse offences should identify whether a child was present when the incident occurred, or whether a child is ordinarily resident at the address where it occurred. When officers do not see children, they should ask if children are resident at the address and should look for signs of children, such as clothing and toys. They should check bedrooms. Where they are told children are on the premises, officers should ensure they see each child to check that they are safe and well.

Whether officers speak to the child depends on the nature of the incident and likelihood of injury. In some circumstances it may not be in the best interest of the child for officers to speak to them at the time, for example, if they remained asleep during the incident and were unaware of it. If officers have any immediate concern for the safety of the child, they should speak to the child, reassure them and enquire about their welfare, avoiding any direct questioning or comment about the specific incident. Concerns should be followed up according to local procedures, for example, referral to a neighbourhood policing team for follow-up action or enquiries with partners such as schools or nurseries regarding the child’s welfare.

Even where it appears the child is already aware of the incident, first response officers should only ask sufficient questions to establish the safety of the child, crime scene location, suspect identity and location, and to ensure the preservation of evidence. They should record all questions and answers for the preparation of any subsequent interview. It is important to allow the child to answer without interruption.

Officers do not need parental consent to speak with the child but, if it is refused, officers should record all requests for consent to interview and should consult and involve children’s social care departments as appropriate.

Children exposed to domestic abuse are subject to harm and risk. Allowing this to happen may amount to an offence of child neglect, which means the child may be a direct victim as well as a witness. See child abuse investigations for further information. Officers must consider referral to the CAIU (or force equivalent) or local authority children’s social care (LACSC) departments in all cases where a child is believed to have witnessed a domestic abuse incident. Where it appears necessary to arrest both parents to investigate an offence, officers should seek advice from a supervisor as to how this should be done, for example, identifying a primary perpetrator or a sequence of arrests to ensure the child is not left without at least one parent at any time.

If the child is a potential witness to the domestic abuse, either as an observer or as a victim in their own right, they should be interviewed in accordance with the guidelines set out in Ministry of Justice (2022) Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance on interviewing victims and witnesses, and using special measures. Officers should consider involving a registered intermediary from the outset.

Where there is any concern for the welfare or safety of a child, officers should make a notification to the police child abuse investigation unit (CAIU), or force equivalent, and seek advice. Any referrals made to LACSC should, where possible, be made by officers from the specialist unit.

Where necessary, officers should consider exercising police powers of protection under the Children Act 1989 section 46. See APP on child abuse, police protection.

Officers attending domestic abuse incidents should record the following details of children present at the time of the incident or ordinarily resident at an address where a domestic abuse incident has occurred:

• name, including other family names and any previously used names
• date of birth
• sex
• normal address
• general practitioner
• primary carer or care arrangements for looked-after children
• school or nursery
• full details of the child’s circumstances, as witnessed by the officer, to include personal welfare, cleanliness, communication ability, injuries and demeanour
• details of anything said by the child
• full details of other children ordinarily present at the address

Vulnerable adults

The broad definition of a vulnerable adult is a person:

Who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation

Lord Chancellor’s Department, Who Decides (1997)

The offence of ill-treatment or willful neglect of a person lacking capacity, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) section 44, can be committed by anyone responsible for that adult’s care and support. This includes familial carers or a family member holding a power of attorney for the vulnerable adult and can therefore be domestic abuse. Willful neglect normally refers to a deliberate failure by a person to do something they knew they had a duty to do. Ill-treatment covers both deliberate ill-treatment and reckless acts resulting in ill-treatment.

Under the MCA, people must be assumed to have capacity to make their own decisions. If a person is found to lack capacity, then any decision taken on their behalf must be made in their best interests.

Officers must work in line with the MCA. This is particularly challenging where a person appears to have capacity but the decisions they are making place them at risk of abuse or neglect. Officers should seek advice from supervisors and use professional judgement to balance competing factors. If in doubt, officers should consider it unlikely that they will be criticised for taking steps to make a person safe against their will when the officers consider, with good reason, that the person cannot make a properly informed decision about their welfare.

The Department of Health Care and Support Statutory Guidance (2014) recommends consideration of the following factors when determining what action to take following a local authority enquiry into suspected abuse of a vulnerable adult, under the Care Act 2014 section 42:

• the adult’s needs for care and support
• the adult’s risk of abuse or neglect
• the adult’s ability to protect themselves or the ability of their networks to increase the support they offer
• the impact on the adult, their wishes
• the possible impact on important relationships
• potential of action and increasing risk to the adult
• the risk of repeated or increasingly serious acts involving children, or another adult at risk of abuse or neglect

Consideration of these factors may assist police officers applying the national decision model (NDM) when responding to a domestic abuse incident involving a vulnerable person, or in a household where a vulnerable person is present. Although consent should normally be obtained for referral to adult services or other intervention, the person’s safety must be the overriding consideration.

Officers should:

• establish if any vulnerable adults are ordinarily resident at the address
• ensure they see the person to ensure they are safe and well
• ascertain whether they can access support if needed – for example, whether they are able to call the police in the event of an incident – and carry out immediate safety planning if not
• flag the need for early consideration of special measures if an offence is suspected of which they are a victim or witness
• make the appropriate referral to adult services if there is any concern for the vulnerable person’s welfare or safety

For further information see Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Build rapport

Checklist: Actions on arrival at the scene provides information on how officers should ensure the safety of victims and children and preserve evidence. To achieve this, officers must establish a rapport and effective communication with the victim.

If an incident is handled effectively and sympathetically on the first occasion, the victim is more likely to have the confidence to call the police again if the situation recurs. Establishing a good rapport also means the victim is more likely to cooperate with the risk assessment and safety planning process, thereby improving the chances of preventing or reducing future incidents.

Many factors can prevent a victim from giving a full and frank account of what has happened. There may be hostility or distrust based on the victim’s previous experiences with the police. It may be difficult to access the premises if the victim refuses entry. Victims may be misusing substances or experiencing mental ill health. They may be traumatised by years of abuse, feel terrified of their partner or have come to accept the abuse as normal.

Why a victim might appear unwilling to engage

See also:

• Why do victims continue abusive relationships?
• CPS Domestic Abuse Guidance

Officers must avoid being dismissive or judgemental towards the victim, especially if they are frequently called to the same address. It is important to understand the dynamics of domestic abuse and to empathise with victims who choose not to, or are unable to, end an abusive relationship. The role of the police is to protect, not judge.

Whether or not a victim ends, or continues to return to, a violent relationship, officers still have a duty to fully investigate the incident and provide appropriate support. Victims are entitled to call the police if they are frightened or feel unsafe, without having to worry about whether or not they will be believed. Officers must take care to ensure the victim understands that the incident is being taken seriously. Where a victim feels unsupported or disbelieved themselves, they are less likely to support police action.

A victim who refuses to engage with the police may be prepared to work with other domestic abuse services – officers should always consider referring a victim to specialist domestic abuse services, even if they are not engaging with the police.

Officers can help to put victims at ease and encourage cooperation by explaining their actions, for example, why they are talking to the children or why they need medical consent and what the consent relates to.

Carry out an initial investigation

Although there may be specialist involvement in the investigation at a later stage, this depends on individual force arrangements for handling domestic abuse cases. The first responder is often the only investigator, especially in cases which are initially identified as standard risk. The investigation must, therefore, be progressed as much as possible at the first opportunity. Where a dedicated domestic abuse resource is available for consultation, the first responder should make use of them, but they should also themselves be familiar with the detailed information in investigative development in domestic abuse cases.

Unsupportive victims and the evidence-led approach

It is common for victims not to support, or to appear not to support, the police, an investigation or criminal proceedings for a variety of reasons. Officers should not assume that investigating the incident in such circumstances will not result in a positive outcome, and should take steps to build a case for a potential evidence-led prosecution, namely, a prosecution based on hearsay or circumstantial evidence, or featuring a hostile witness. The first responder should look for corroborating evidence immediately on arrival at the scene as this is the best opportunity to investigate. See APP in initial investigation and golden hour principles. If the officer has body-worn video, they should consider turning it on as soon as they arrive at the scene or at the point of assignment to the call, in accordance with force instructions.

Officers should ensure that they read and use the Joint NPCC and CPS Evidence Gathering Checklist for use by Police Forces and CPS in Cases of Domestic Abuse.

At the scene, officers should consider calling a crime scene examiner and think about:

• physical evidence ‒ clothing and bedding, weapons, signs of disturbance
• forensics ‒ blood pattern distribution, other biological evidence, footwear, DNA
• photographic evidence
• CCTV
• house-to-house enquiries
• technology and social media ‒ mobile phones, social media, email

Additional information and intelligence gathering to build on call handler information could include:

• further database checks – PNC, PND, ViSOR, ASSIST
• foreign intelligence checks
• bad character evidence
• medical records
• financial information
• prison intelligence
• ANPR
• CCTV
• covert tactics and sources

See:

• Checklist: Lines of enquiry
• Checklist: Use of photographic evidence
• Checklist: Evidence-led prosecution

Scene protection

Scene protection considerations are most likely to apply where there has been an immediate report. Although delayed reports may limit opportunities for forensic evidence, these should still be explored.

Where evidence gathering is likely to be complex, for example, if there are multiple scenes or specialist forensic techniques are needed, officers should seek advice from a supervisor, domestic abuse specialist or crime scene expert.

Scene protection should primarily focus on the immediate scene, as indicated by the initial crime complaint. It may also include other scenes that provide supporting evidence for previous or ongoing incidents. First responders should note that other crimes often occur alongside domestic abuse incidents, such as child abuse or sexual abuse, but these types of offences are not always immediately apparent. See identification, reporting and associated investigations.

The suspect is likely to have had legitimate access to the scene but there is still potential for forensic evidence to corroborate the victim or witness account.

The following scene protection guidelines should be put into place when it is safe to do so, in a manner which ensures that personal safety is not compromised and any material of evidential value is preserved. For more information see APP on Investigation – Scene strategy. See also APP on Civil emergencies – Securing the scene – Legal issues for police common law powers to set up a cordon.

Initial enquiries with victims and witnesses

First accounts and body-worn video

If a victim (or witness) first account is recorded by a body-worn video (BWV) device, they should be given the opportunity to review their first account prior to a further interview or making and signing a statement. Any interview or statement should make reference to the recording and review of the first account. Reviewing video material should apply only to material relating to their account.

It may be possible to record a victim using audio only, by diverting the camera away from the victim or obscuring the lens, however, officers still need to obtain consent in these circumstances.

Where it is apparent that a victim or witness will require an achieving best evidence (ABE) interview by a specialist interviewer, a BWV user should only ask questions which help to identify if a criminal offence has taken place, where it occurred, who is responsible and to ensure the victim is safe.

See body-worn video for detailed guidance on using BWV in domestic abuse incidents.

Victim’s views on obtaining a restraining order and victim personal statement

Although restraining orders are normally obtained at the conclusion of criminal proceedings, officers need to be thinking about the potential for obtaining one from the outset. Where the perpetrator is arrested, officers should ask the victim if they would like a restraining order, and in what terms, and record the answer in the victim’s statement. If the victim requests a restraining order, officers should provide details on the case summary as part of initial file submission.

This is important because knowing that the victim feels they need the protection of a restraining order can support an application for a remand in custody or the imposition of bail conditions. Bail conditions can be requested which reflect the terms of the requested restraining order set out on the case summary. If the victim chooses later not to support the proceedings, the initial views can still be used at sentencing or to apply for a non-conviction restraining order. See victim safety and support for further information.

Similarly, 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 victim personal statement at a later stage — this is a right under the Ministry of Justice (2020) Code of Practice for Victims in England and Wales. A victim’s views can assist the magistrates with bail decisions and there may not be another opportunity to submit them if, for example, the case is concluded at the first court hearing.

Injury photos

Wherever possible, victim injuries should be photographed at the scene. If this is with the officer’s personal issue camera-enabled mobile device or camera, the images should be downloaded as part of the handover so that they are with the file at an early stage. Forces should adopt appropriate procedures setting out how images may be captured and processed in different circumstances.

Forensic photographs should also be taken where possible, but as the victim may not keep an appointment for these to be taken, it is important not to lose the opportunity at first contact – it is better to have non-professional photos than no photos.

Injury photos taken at the scene can:

• contribute to an evidence-led prosecution where the victim does not support proceedings
• support an application for a remand in custody – colour injury photographs have far more impact than a description of the injury in a witness statement
• enable comparison with later photographs which show the evolution of the injury
• capture marks that fade, for example, red marks which show there has been contact but which do not cause lasting injury
• help to show degree of force used, for example, as bruising often takes some time to come out, significant, immediate bruising may be indicative of a high level of force

Some injuries do not become visible immediately. A follow-up visit should be scheduled to take further photographs where the assault alleged is expected to result in additional visible injuries.

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 account of when photos are taken. This may require use of a specialist photographer. 

With the victim’s consent, officers should photograph all non-intimate injuries that the victim refers to in their account, including any injuries which may be concealed in the hair. Officers should also make a note of any areas they have not seen or the victim does not wish to show them. This is to avoid later argument that injuries were not mentioned in the officer’s statement because they were not present, and not because they were not seen. Where possible, the victim’s preference for the gender of the person taking photographs should be respected.

Where officers charge a suspect and keep them in custody for court, they should make every effort to provide a colour copy or print-out of the injury photographs with the remand file. These can make the difference between a defendant being remanded in custody or bailed by the court, which affects victim confidence and likelihood of maintaining support for the case.

Officers should also photograph any injuries of the suspect and include them in the handover package.

For more detail on photographic evidence, see investigative development, photographic evidence.

Using interpreters at the scene

If there is a need for an interpreter at the scene, an approved interpreter should be sourced if possible. Where none is available and there is a need to secure immediate safety, officers should consider using a telephone interpreting service, limiting its use to preliminary inquiries.

Officers should only use family members as interpreters as a last resort and only for the purpose of securing immediate safety. This applies particularly to children. Some family members may be vulnerable to abuse or intimidation by the perpetrator and asking them to interpret could put them at risk. No suspected perpetrator should ever be used and if HBA is suspected it is never appropriate to use a family member.

Any use of a family member or member of the public to interpret at the scene should be recorded. If they are used, the officer(s) should consider checking the information they have received – does the explanation fit the evidence? Can another person corroborate the description of the incident?

Further options may include foreign language-speaking officers or the use of pictorial cards/other communication aids. Again, their use should be limited to securing immediate safety.

For further information about use of interpreters, see using interpreters during interviews.

Determining the primary perpetrator and dealing with counter-allegations

Officers should avoid jumping to conclusions about which of the parties in the relationship is the victim and which the perpetrator. This applies to all types of relationships, whether heterosexual, same sex, transgender or familial (non-intimate partner). They should probe the situation and be aware that the primary aggressor is not necessarily the person who was first to use force or threatening behaviour in the current incident.

They should examine whether:

• the victim may have used justifiable force against the suspect in self-defence
• the suspect may be making a false counter-allegation
• both parties may be exhibiting some injury and/or distress
• a manipulative perpetrator may be trying to draw the police into colluding with their control or coercion of the victim, by making a false incident report

Counter-allegations require police officers to evaluate each party’s complaint separately and conduct immediate further investigation at the scene (or as soon as is practicable) to determine if there is a primary perpetrator.

If both parties claim to be the victim, officers should risk assess both. There may also be circumstances where the party being arrested requires a risk assessment, as in the case of a victim retaliating against an abuser. Officers should bear in mind the possibility that the relationship is a mutually abusive one.

When investigating counter-allegations, officers should note and record:

• body language
• comparative severity of any injuries inflicted by the parties
• whether either party has made threats to another party, child or another family or household member
• whether either party has a history of abuse or violence
• whether either party has made previous counter-allegations
• whether either party acted defensively to protect him or herself or a third person from injury
• what any third party witnesses say

Conducting a thorough investigation into the incident will help officers to determine the facts of the situation, see investigative development.

For further information see:

• Dual arrests
• CPS Domestic Abuse Guidelines for Prosecutors, Self defence and counter-allegations

First responder as a witness

First responders are witnesses and should prepare or give a detailed statement to be included with any prosecution file. If this is by interview at a later stage, supervisors should be mindful that dealing with domestic abuse incidents may sometimes trigger an officer to disclose personal experience of domestic abuse and they should be prepared to offer welfare support if this happens.

Identify risk

Risk identification and assessment are the responsibility of the response officer in the first instance. They remain so unless and until the case is handed over to a specialist or other investigation officer. The response officer must conduct the first risk assessment correctly because it may be the only one carried out in the case. Officers should refer to the section on risk identification and assessment, which sets out the duties of first responders and other officers in this respect.

Initiate support and protection for victims

It is the responsibility of first responders to initiate safety planning and set out options for the victim, even where this is subsequently followed up by a specialist officer. Urgent safeguarding actions can be put into place straight away – a matter of hours can make all the difference to that victim’s safety.

First responders should consider developing a short-term safety plan which allows the victim to remain in their own home and addresses the suspect’s possible return there, for example, keeping a mobile phone within reach and identifying an exit route, or emergency target hardening measures. They could also consider referring the victim to a refuge, arranging emergency accommodation or arranging for them to stay with a friend or relative for immediate safety. Officers should note that staying with a family member is unlikely to be safe if HBA is suspected.

Officers could make a return visit to the premises or arrange for the neighbourhood policing team to make contact. More detailed safety planning should be carried out with specialist help, for example, an independent domestic violence adviser (IDVA). Officers should ask victims what they think would make them safer.

Officers should be mindful that any written materials may be found by or brought to the attention of the abuser, so should not be left lying around. This risk should be discussed with the victim if they wish to be given written materials.

When children are present or if they are ordinarily resident at the address, officers should consider the impact of domestic abuse on them. If either applies, the case must be considered for referral to the local authority children’s social care department. In some cases, the impact or risk will be so significant that children may need to be taken into emergency care under the Children Act 1989 section 46.

If in doubt, officers should consider seeking advice from a supervisor or domestic abuse/child abuse specialist. Whilst taking a child into emergency care is a very significant step and can have serious consequences for the child, family, police and local authority, leaving a child in a dangerous situation can have much more serious consequences.

Free national helpline details

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

Forces should keep and regularly update a list of services in their area, where they are based, and what areas they work in, with contact details, so that the victim can be made aware of them and make their own choices about what services to access. This list should be made available to first responders to assist with supporting victims.

See safety planning for more options and example safety plans.

Where a case is not referred to a domestic abuse specialist officer, this may be the only opportunity to ensure the victim’s safety.

Referrals to voluntary sector support agencies

Officers should inform victims of Victim Support (VS), community-based outreach services and places of safety, many of which are dependent on local arrangements. Ministry of Justice (2020) Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales specifies that the 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.

Sometimes it is not possible to assure a victim’s safety by taking measures to address the perpetrator’s behaviour, for example, if the suspect is feared to be very violent and has left the scene. Moving a victim out of their home is a serious step and risks victimising the person again. In some cases, however, it may be unavoidable. In these circumstances, a refuge may be an option for some victims, but there are limited places and many restrictions on who can stay there, for example, victims with substance-misuse problems or teenage sons may not be eligible. It may also take time to find a place. Identifying a victim’s needs is key to developing effective safety planning, for example:

• a safe place in another area
• a specialist black or minority ethnic domestic abuse service
• a service that can provide legal or financial advice
• a service that can offer support in another language

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 also 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. Officers should be familiar with local protocols for arranging emergency accommodation within refuges and any restrictions on the allocation of places.

For information on more specialist services, the Women’s Aid Gold Book can be accessed through a subscription service, an option which forces may wish to consider making available to officers. The ManKind Initiative has a similar directory of services for male victims called the Oak Book, which is available by contacting them.

The location of refuges or their telephone numbers should never be made public or revealed to anyone. Most refuges have specific referral procedures to be followed. The location should not be given to victims directly or written down in records.

Officers should ensure not only that the geographical location of the accommodation is not revealed to the perpetrator but also that no confirmation is given that the victim has gone to a refuge or other place of safety. The perpetrator may be able to discover the address through word of mouth or other channels. Officers should also keep in mind the possibility that a perpetrator may try to find the victim through a missing person’s report.

There are organisations which can help victims with obtaining injunctions or other aspects of family law.

The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) provides assistance 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 some useful links to legal advice.

See also CPS Domestic Abuse Guidelines for Prosecutors, Annex E – National support organisations.

Emergency accommodation

Local authorities (LAs) have an initial duty to provide access to emergency temporary accommodation for anyone threatened with or experiencing domestic abuse. Officers should be familiar with local protocols to access emergency temporary accommodation and should be able to make arrangements on behalf of victims or ensure support services will help them to do so.

If the victim needs to return home to collect children or belongings and there is fear of further abuse, it may be appropriate for police officers to go with them. Alternatively, if the victim feels safe to return home, it may be more appropriate for a relative, friend or social worker to accompany them, if a police presence is likely to inflame the situation. See assisting with the recovery of property for the victim.

Ensure a good handover

The first responder must ensure that any handover includes all information relevant to the safety of the victim and any children.

In particular, it should include:

• perpetrator’s history of violence and history of any domestic incidents
• any risk assessment and grading of risk, including any signs of controlling or coercive behaviour
• any information relevant to ongoing risk assessment
• any information relevant to the custody sergeant’s decision to bail or remand in custody – including information relevant to bail conditions, for example, details of their workplace or children’s schools
• any information relevant to an application before a court to remand in custody, for example, colour photos of injuries
• details of any safety planning measures taken
• any additional safety planning required

Normal investigation handover considerations apply.

The officer should also give the victim a point of contact and remind them to call the emergency services if there are any further incidents or bail breaches.