Accessible VAWG Inquiry report

A Victims’ Panel has been set up, with the help of commissioned victim services, to obtain views from those with lived experience of VAWG crimes. A group of volunteers shared their experiences, with a view to helping services improve for future victims. This feedback has been shared with Kent Police and partners who provide a service to victims, so that we can all identify and share good practice, as well as identify areas where service delivery could improve. Their views mirrored some of those expressed in the larger survey undertaken last year.

We will introduce a wider independent victims' survey, so we capture feedback from even more victims.

Below are some common themes from the Victims' Panel:

1. Lack of communication from authorities (including Police and CPS). When there is an update it does not come across as meaningful (believe it was a tick box exercise every 28 days with 'update is no update').
2. Victims felt the burden of proof fell on
3. Victims felt as traumatised, if not more so, by the criminal justice process as the crime(s)
4. Lack of clarity on what the Police can and cannot do – managing expectations needs to be
5. No consideration or flexibility to work around victim’s life. It is the victim that must work around the system regarding timing and location.
6. Perception the system favours the suspect rather than the
7. It feels like the CPS plays ping pong with their
8. Investigating evidence on victims’ phones is disproportionate to the case and victims reported feeling more stressed because their phones were taken for long periods.
9. Belief that their first interview or ABE is their ‘one shot’ to get it right but if testimonies/statements differ between statements then it is seen as the victim is lying or changing their story. (Need more trauma-informed training).
10. Perception that Police decide there will be NFA due to lack of evidence too
11. A common belief that there is unconscious bias and that more training
12. Legislative changes needed to bring CJS into 21st

Perpetrator Problem Profile. Holding perpetrators to account for their behaviour will be key to making women and girls safer. A detailed analysis of Kent Police offender data has been commissioned to build a perpetrator problem profile in Kent. This will be presented to the PCC and Kent Police Chief officers soon. It is hoped the findings will provide further insight into the extent of VAWG crime in Kent. Moreover, it is hoped the data will highlight areas where proactive and prevention work can be carried out, as well as informing offender management processes.

Kent Police is trialling a new role: Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer. The role is currently being piloted in one area of the county. The DALO's impact will be assessed and considered by Chief Officers who will make a decision as to whether to roll it out further. The piloted role:

a) provides consistent and coordinated support to safeguard victims most at risk from repeat offending, especially those reticent to engage.

b) responds swiftly in response to incidents, working in tandem with OICs to secure golden hour evidence from victims, including video evidence

c) carries out bespoke victim needs assessments and maintain contact in accordance with victims’ needs and wishes

d) signposts and deploy a full range of appropriate IDVA services

e) carries out hidden harm visits to repeat victims to ensure safeguarding and arresting offenders where appropriate

f) refers into and engage fully with MARAC, MATAC and MASIP processes.

I will utilise an action plan to hold the force to account for the delivery of relevant recommendations, as well as the performance of work in their new VAWG strategy. The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners have built an action plan to hold organisations to account. This action plan will be incorporated into our work to keep track of performance against different areas of business.

This report will be a living document and a platform to work from to improve the safety and fear of crime of women and girls across Kent. The coordination of all activity under the VAWG umbrella will be managed by a coordinator in the office to work closer alongside the force, charities, and criminal justice agencies.

Using statutory meetings as a way to hold to account. VAWG will be a significant part of the report the Chief Constable presents to me at my quarterly Performance and Delivery Board. I will continue to update the Police and Crime Panel on this inquiry work even after the report has been published to lay out how my office and the force are working towards tackling VAWG in all its guises.