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1 AGENDA ITEM NO: 5 Meeting SPA Authority Meeting Date and Time 21 August 2013 Location Ayr Title of Paper Police Scotland - Domestic Abuse Item Number 5 Presented By Chief Constable / Lesley Bain, Head of Analysis & Performance For Approval / For Information For Information please annotate (IN RED BOLD) Appendix Attached: Yes or No No Purpose To provide members of the Scottish Police Authority with a detailed performance report in respect of Police Scotland s response to Domestic Abuse. Background 1.1 The Chief Constable and the Scottish Police Authority agreed that Police Scotland will provide an in-depth report on a specific area of operational policing performance to the public meeting of the full authority. 1.2 This report constitutes the first such report and focuses on the Police Scotland response to Domestic Abuse. Further Detail on Report Introduction 2.1 Domestic Abuse is a very high priority for Police Scotland and covers a broad range of crimes from serious crimes of violence and sexual offences, such as Murder and Rape, to offences of Assault and Breach of the Peace. 2.2 The impact of Domestic Abuse is widespread and can be both physical and emotional. It can also affect those who witness it or those, such as children, who experience it in a domestic setting. The focus of Police Scotland is on Keeping People Safe and this focus begins by working to reduce violence in the home. Context 2.3 As a single policing service, our focus is on Keeping People Safe. Our robust Police Scotland performance framework enables an intelligence-led policing service that helps reduce crime, particularly violent crime. Police Scotland particularly aims to reduce the number of victims of crime and build public confidence so that more people feel confident to come forward to report crime. Measuring our performance informs our policing tactics and allows us to allocate our resources in the right places. 2.4 During 2012/13 there were 60,457 Domestic Abuse incidents reported to the 8 legacy Scottish Police Forces. 37,500 crimes were recorded as a result, 75% of which were detected. During 2012/13 there were 10 domestic homicides, all of which were detected. Almost 20% of police operational time is spent dealing with Domestic Abuse issues. 1

2 Strategy Between 1 April 2013 and 30 June 2013, 14,260 domestic abuse incidents were recorded by Police Scotland. This is a 1.1% reduction compared to the same period last year. 54.7% of incidents result in a crime report being raised. Regional variations have been identified in the number of reported domestic abuse incidents which result in a crime report being raised. Work is ongoing to ensure identified best practice in this area is being applied consistently across the county. Year to date, there have been 10,972 crimes recorded, which is a 16.4% increase on the same period last year. The current year to date detection rate is 80.1%. 2.5 Experience tells us that domestic incidents are rarely one off events. Analysis indicates that individuals are often subject to repeat incidents before they seek help. Strong partnership working in this area is therefore critical to ensure the best outcomes for victims. 2.6 The corner stone of the Police Scotland response to Domestic Abuse is: Building excellence in investigative practice crime scene management, forensic awareness, interview techniques, intelligence-gathering Increased focus on perpetrators Enhancing support for victims Effective partnership working 2.7 This approach builds on the strategy previously implemented, as part of the wider Campaign Against Violence, in the west of Scotland where during the financial year 2012/13 the legacy force Strathclyde reported a 4.7% reduction in Domestic Abuse incidents (1380 fewer incidents), a 12.9% reduction in Domestic Abuse crimes (3057 fewer crimes) and an improved detection rate which had risen to 74%. 2.8 Experience has shown that where a co-ordinated approach is taken Police Scotland can most significantly impact on reducing offending and increasing the safety of those vulnerable to Domestic Abuse. In support of this approach a number of key initiatives are now being implemented across Scotland, as follows: Domestic Abuse Analysis Product Domestic Abuse is a complex crime requiring a high degree of analysis. Recency, Frequency, Gravity (RFG) analysis enables the identification of repeat perpetrators, problematic locations and vulnerable persons. The data is sourced from the ICT System for Tasking and Operational Resource Management (STORM) and Vulnerable Persons Database (VPD) from incidents over the preceding six months. Gravity is based on the nature of the injuries sustained by the victim. Injuries which involve hospitalisation or require a visit to a General Practitioner (GP) are judged as most grave. Injuries not requiring medical intervention are regarded as less grave, meanwhile non-injurious Domestic Abuse incidents score low on gravity. Analytical reports are circulated to all divisions on a monthly basis detailing the most prolific high impact perpetrators, victims who are potentially at risk and problematic locations. A monthly scoring mechanism is used to establish whether a perpetrator, victim or location poses an increased or decreased risk 2

3 in order that police and partnership effort can be tasked appropriately Domestic Abuse Coordination Unit The Domestic Abuse Coordination Unit (DACU) is responsible for ensuring that the service is fully sighted on all Domestic Abuse incidents on both a local and national level. The DACU role is to: Provide support to Local Police Commanders Monitor and review practices and procedures Ensure consistency in service delivery throughout Scotland Research, develop and establish best practice Drive the Domestic Abuse agenda within Police Scotland The aim of the DACU is to ensure that Police Scotland remains a pioneer on this issue and is recognised as a lead in UK and international terms Divisional Domestic Abuse Investigation Units Specialist Domestic Abuse Investigation Units (DAIUs) have been established in every Local Policing Division. The emphasis of DAIUs is on pro-activity and investigations against perpetrators. The key functions of the DAIU are to: Investigate and/or provide specialist assistance in relation to incidents of Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment Recognise patterns of offending behaviour of perpetrators of Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and pursue accordingly Identify and pursue all investigative opportunities and secure all available evidence relative to every aspect of criminality in which an identified perpetrator of Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment is involved Engage in effective safeguarding to ensure the continued wellbeing of victims and their children Engage with the Domestic Abuse Task Force and partners to provide a cohesive police and multi agency response Domestic Abuse Task Force The introduction of the Domestic Abuse Task Force (DATF) provides a national proactive, intelligence-led perpetrator-focussed approach to investigations. The Task Force combines both uniformed and detective officers to investigate historic and protracted Domestic Abuse enquiries. This is an approach previously used only during murder and other major crime investigations. The Task Force targets the most prolific and dangerous perpetrators, particularly those identified through Multi Agency Tasking and Co-ordinating. This means Local Policing Commanders have access to expertise and resources capable of robustly tackling offending behaviour without impacting on local resources. Intelligence and the development of information received from partner agencies is critical in the approach of proactive and direct targeting of perpetrators Multi Agency Tasking and Coordinating Group (MATAC) Whilst the Task Force, Local Investigation Units and the Co-ordination Unit use 3

4 their expertise to provide a focus on tackling Domestic Abuse, by working effectively with partners the response from all the agencies can be more coordinated and effective. The MATAC efficiently and effectively targets repeat Domestic Abuse perpetrators - those who present the greatest risk of harm to victims. The MATAC approach has now been rolled out across all 14 divisions to ensure fortnightly partnership meetings focus on the priority targeting of perpetrators across Scotland (Tayside and Highlands and Islands divisions are due to hold their first meetings in September 2013). The attendees at MATAC meetings include: Divisional Superintendent (responsible for the Domestic Abuse portfolio) Domestic Abuse Task Force Domestic Abuse Co-Ordination Unit Gangs Task Force Divisional Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Independent Advocacy (ASSIST) Relevant Housing Provider At meetings, effective decision making ensures resources are deployed to tackle individuals who pose the greatest risk to victims of Domestic Abuse, using any and all means at the group s disposal. Clear lines of communication, ownership and accountability ensure that victims and their children remain safe Development of Domestic Abuse Champions Forum The establishment of a Divisional Domestic Abuse Forum in each area identifies local issues and solutions, which draw on best practice and ensure a consistent approach to service. The focus is on improving enforcement practices and providing early interventions. Local Police Commanders identify a divisional Champion, of Superintendent rank, to drive the portfolio locally. The forum is quarterly and all 14 divisions are represented. The purpose is to develop good practice, manage performance and adopt a Scotland-wide overview which maintains a consistent approach to Keeping People Safe from Domestic Abuse Domestic Abuse Performance Framework Key Domestic Abuse targets and performance indicators are included in monthly performance reports. Compliance and performance improvement are also supported by a toolkit distributed Scotland-wide. The Domestic Abuse toolkit is a living document which is continually updated with good practice wherever it is identified and found to be effective Domestic Abuse Intelligence Unit An intelligence report is submitted for every Domestic Abuse incident. This helps to track offenders and identify patterns / trends. Intelligence provided by partners has also helped created a more detailed understanding of offending. 4

5 2.8.9 Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) The creation of dedicated Domestic Abuse Procurator Fiscals and Domestic Abuse Courts has resulted in significant cases reaching a successful conclusion. This approach also contributed to the 4.7% reduction in Domestic Abuse incidents in the legacy Strathclyde area as detailed earlier in this report and partners have also reported significantly fewer referrals. Dedicated Domestic Abuse Courts are now established in Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Greater Glasgow. Such courts seek to shorten the period between a case s first calling to Intermediate Diet, to the Trial Diet. The majority of the business in the Domestic Abuse Courts is handled by specialist sheriffs, who devote a considerable portion of their time to it. This ensures a high degree of consistency of approach, and case-specific knowledge. All domestic abuse summary prosecutions are handled by the dedicated Procurators Fiscal, who are further supported by enhanced domestic abuse training. Going Forward 2.9 Significant work has taken place to embed best practice in all Police Scotland divisions since 1 April The Task Force will ensure a national approach is delivered locally with a hub being located at Bathgate and virtual networks in place in Aberdeen, Dundee and Inverness. Work is underway to link the Recency, Frequency, Gravity analytical process to the Vulnerable Persons Database. Compliance and performance management processes are developing. Partnership working is essential. Divisions have been tasked to engage with local partners particularly around advocacy workers. Safety planning for victims is highly important and partners are encouraged to take ownership of issues such as housing and education. As well as the enforcement of formal civil options, basic preventative actions can also be effective. Bespoke plans for every perpetrator through the MATAC process will increase our ability to tackle the cause rather than manage the consequences of incidents when they occur. Financial Implications 3.1 There are no financial implications associated with this paper. Personnel Implications 4.1 There are no personnel implications associated with this report. Legal Implications 5.1 The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012) legislates for the provision of this information. Reputational Implications 6.1 There are no reputational implications associated with this report. 5

6 Social Implications 7.1 There are no social implications other than those contained in this report. Recommendations Members are invited to note the content of this paper and the progress Police Scotland is making in terms of tackling Domestic Abuse in Scotland. 6