Home Office
Central Government
Action Planned
The Home Office will raise discrepancies between College of Policing guidance and PACE powers with the College of Policing. They describe plans for Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders, and reference the Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. (AI summary)
View full response
Dear Mr Cox,
Thank you for your letter of 27 February 2023 to Minister Philp enclosing a copy of a Preventing Future Deaths Report produced following the inquest of Sharon Elaine Harman. Your letter has been passed to officials for a response.
In your report you have identified key areas of concern where you believe that there is risk that future deaths may occur unless action is taken.
Thank you for bringing to our attention the disconnect between the College of Policing guidance and the powers provided to the police under s19 PACE. We will look to raise these discrepancies with the College of Policing. In terms of the recommendation to consider an additional power for police to retain house keys (for the duration of bail conditions only), we regularly consult with stakeholders, review existing legislation and associated Codes of Practice including any requirements for legislative reform, to ensure that the powers available to the police and law enforcement bodies are reasonable, proportionate and necessary in the circumstances, with the requisite safeguards to protect the rights of individuals and victims.
It is also worth noting that in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Government committed to launching a new Domestic Abuse Protection Notice and Order (DAPN/DAPO), to be piloted from Spring 2024. These will go even further in protecting victims from all forms of domestic abuse. Including making a breach of a DAPO a criminal offence and giving court’s the power to impose electronic monitoring (tagging) conditions. A court could therefore impose an exclusion zone to prohibit a perpetrator from entering a specified area, such as a victim’s home. Perpetrator’s will also be subject to mandatory notification requirements of name and address, ensuring that where the perpetrator resides is known to the police. The Government is currently undergoing extensive work to prepare the new order for piloting from next year which will help to improve the protections for domestic abuse victims, including where they reside with the perpetrator.
It may also be helpful set out other relevant work the Government is progressing on these issues. We recognise that domestic abuse is intolerable and sometimes fatal, yet it is far too common. In March 2022, we published the cross-Government Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. The Plan will seek to transform the whole of society’s response in order to prevent offending, support victims and pursue perpetrators, as well as to strengthen the systems processes in place needed to deliver these goals. The Plan invests over £230 million of cross-Government funding into tackling this heinous crime. This includes over £140 million for supporting victims and over £81 million for tackling perpetrators.
Kind regards,
Email: Public.Enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
Thank you for your letter of 27 February 2023 to Minister Philp enclosing a copy of a Preventing Future Deaths Report produced following the inquest of Sharon Elaine Harman. Your letter has been passed to officials for a response.
In your report you have identified key areas of concern where you believe that there is risk that future deaths may occur unless action is taken.
Thank you for bringing to our attention the disconnect between the College of Policing guidance and the powers provided to the police under s19 PACE. We will look to raise these discrepancies with the College of Policing. In terms of the recommendation to consider an additional power for police to retain house keys (for the duration of bail conditions only), we regularly consult with stakeholders, review existing legislation and associated Codes of Practice including any requirements for legislative reform, to ensure that the powers available to the police and law enforcement bodies are reasonable, proportionate and necessary in the circumstances, with the requisite safeguards to protect the rights of individuals and victims.
It is also worth noting that in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Government committed to launching a new Domestic Abuse Protection Notice and Order (DAPN/DAPO), to be piloted from Spring 2024. These will go even further in protecting victims from all forms of domestic abuse. Including making a breach of a DAPO a criminal offence and giving court’s the power to impose electronic monitoring (tagging) conditions. A court could therefore impose an exclusion zone to prohibit a perpetrator from entering a specified area, such as a victim’s home. Perpetrator’s will also be subject to mandatory notification requirements of name and address, ensuring that where the perpetrator resides is known to the police. The Government is currently undergoing extensive work to prepare the new order for piloting from next year which will help to improve the protections for domestic abuse victims, including where they reside with the perpetrator.
It may also be helpful set out other relevant work the Government is progressing on these issues. We recognise that domestic abuse is intolerable and sometimes fatal, yet it is far too common. In March 2022, we published the cross-Government Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan. The Plan will seek to transform the whole of society’s response in order to prevent offending, support victims and pursue perpetrators, as well as to strengthen the systems processes in place needed to deliver these goals. The Plan invests over £230 million of cross-Government funding into tackling this heinous crime. This includes over £140 million for supporting victims and over £81 million for tackling perpetrators.
Kind regards,
Email: Public.Enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk