About this page. This page summarises a Domestic Homicide Review published in the Home Office DHR Library. The full report is available at the source link below. Victim and perpetrator names are not included in extracted summaries on this page.
Source · Domestic Homicide Review
West Berkshire review
CSP: West Berkshire
Published: June 2023
Year of death: 2008
Extracted: 23 recs
Statutory domestic homicide review under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. Source: Home Office DHR Library.
View full report (PDF) ↗
Source: Home Office DHR Library
Summary
The review identifies critical failures in police call handling and incident response for domestic abuse, alongside systemic issues in inter-agency information sharing, DHR process coordination, and public/professional awareness of domestic abuse risks and support pathways.
Extracted recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressed to |
|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | The training currently underway in TVP should form part of an annual refresher session for all customer facing call centre or control room staff to ensure that the potential for Domestic Abuse is always uppermost in their minds. The training should use real case studies to explore and develop awareness of the ways in which people may report Domestic Abuse, the use of open questioning techniques and the use of domestic abuse risk indicators as well as the links to mental health issues and missing person’s protocols. | Thames Valley Police |
| 6.10 | That further work is undertaken to clarify the reporting requirements of Independent Contractors following Serious Untoward Incidents. | NHS Berkshire West |
| 6.11 | Develop a system that GP’s may use to alert statutory agencies in partnership to identify potentially critically dangerous abuse to ensure access to appropriate services and to provide protection for potential victims. | NHS Berkshire West |
| 6.12 | A response to these recommendations should reflect the guidance provided in the Department of Health publication 292071 “Improving safety, reducing harm, a practical toolkit for front-line practitioners” published in 2009. | NHS Berkshire West |
| 6.13 | Policies, procedures and guidance should be regularly reviewed and the provision of training for Council staff and Members be programmed annually to ensure the awareness of Domestic Abuse in all its forms is maintained at a high level. | West Berkshire Council |
| 6.14 | Use the Councils facilities, resources and influence to increase for all residents of West Berkshire awareness of what constitutes abusive behaviours to challenge the narrow understanding that only physical abuse is serious. | West Berkshire Council |
| 6.15 | Consider all types of media coverage, including posters in all Council offices, and public service points, vehicle sides, the use of Council and partner’s newsletters, radio campaigns and in partnership with other agencies and central Government the use of television campaigns. | West Berkshire Council |
| 6.16 | This approach could also use neutral points of access, either in person or through a secure and confidential web based service, such as Libraries, schools, community centres, children’s centre’s and leisure centres, through regular surgeries or other forms of access. | West Berkshire Council |
| 6.17 | The procedure and methodology for conducting internal service reviews, the progress of internal learning and disciplinary processes relative to the process for the Domestic Violence Homicide Review should be addressed through further guidance to ensure that there is no delay to either the DVHR process or to subsequent Coroners Inquest procedures. | Government |
| 6.18 | The period dedicated to all Internal Management Reviews, including those conducted by the Police Service should, through further guidance, be fixed to be coterminous with the DVHR process, to ensure co-ordination between the two procedures. | Government |
| 6.19 | Future Government guidance needs to provide the review process with the right to access personal information through relevant agencies who hold it, to allow the review to proceed, especially where individuals are not inclined to offer or press for their involvement. | Government |
| 6.2 | External or partnership trainers with expert and current experience of Domestic Abuse should be invited to assist with this training to challenge existing internal cultures that may be a blockage to improved services. | Thames Valley Police |
| 6.20 | Consider the development of a properly funded and resourced “first call” or “alert” service for people to report concerns to encourage access to confidential advice and support from expert and trained staff, similar to the “Childline” service. This may be linked to safeguarding children to reinforce the fact that children are often victims in such cases. | West Berkshire Safer Communities Partnership |
| 6.21 | Develop a partnership strategy and campaign to ensure there are policies in place with all major employers and encourage smaller employers to participate through joint training sessions that are mandatory for all staff. Draft and approve a statement of intent or charter that all employers in West Berkshire will be invited to sign up to in challenging domestic abuse in all its forms. There are both national and local organisations that may be interested, the most recent campaign is “4 ways to speak out” run by “Refuge” (http://www.fourwaystospeakout.co.uk/) or locally Berkshire Womens Aid (http://www.berkshirewomensaid.org.uk/) may wish to participate in an awareness raising campaign in West Berkshire. | West Berkshire Safer Communities Partnership |
| 6.22 | As part of the wider campaign, with Police and NHS organisations, ensure a poster and leaflet campaign is maintained with free literature available to all residents, agencies and businesses in West Berkshire to use in all public areas and facilities and through staff induction and training. A “key signs to look for” approach should be utilised along with a link to a confidential reporting facility. | West Berkshire Safer Communities Partnership | Thames Valley Police | NHS Berkshire West |
| 6.23 | Post incident support frameworks should be examined to seek whether there is the potential to provide a range of services to include financial or welfare benefit advice, advocacy, legal advice or support and broader family support. This is especially so where children are involved. | West Berkshire Safer Communities Partnership |
| 6.3 | The Standard Operating Procedure should be annually reviewed in response to new cases and audits of relevant case studies to ensure it is always fit for purpose. Relevant training or coaching should be carried out to refresh staff as required. | Thames Valley Police |
| 6.4 | The National Standard of Incident Reporting should similarly be annually reviewed in the same manner to ensure it is fit for purpose. Relevant training or coaching should be carried out to refresh staff as required. An annual audit of compliance should be conducted to ensure that the procedures are accurately followed and findings fed back through the review of the annual training plan. | Thames Valley Police |
| 6.5 | Control Room & Call Handling teams should receive regular and at least annual refresher training of Domestic Abuse awareness, the use of the SOP and the requirements of the NSIR, particularly in relation to apparent low level requests for advice. | Thames Valley Police |
| 6.6 | Through a multi agency working approach, participate with the Council in a media campaign to raise the awareness of the residents, employers and businesses of West Berkshire to the wider potential of Domestic Abuse to affect their family, neighbours, staff and friends. | Thames Valley Police | West Berkshire Council |
| 6.7 | Contribute to the scoping and development of an effective “First call” or “Alert” service, with West Berkshire Council and NHS Berkshire West that supports and encourages residents to seek advice and guidance in responding to potential risks from Domestic Abuse. | Thames Valley Police | West Berkshire Council | NHS Berkshire West |
| 6.8 | That exploration of the use of screening tools in primary care is completed and recommendations implemented as required | NHS Berkshire West |
| 6.9 | That consideration is given to provision of regular training regarding Domestic Abuse / Homicide within the Child Protection Training currently available | NHS Berkshire West |
| Recommendations extracted from the published report. Source: Home Office DHR Library. View full report ↗ | ||