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

Stafford review

CSP: Stafford Published: July 2023 Year of death: 2017 Extracted: 100 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 report identifies concerns regarding inconsistent police classification and cross-referencing of stalking and harassment incidents, which hindered a holistic understanding of the abuse. This led to missed opportunities for effective investigation and prosecution of the perpetrator, alongside limitations in victim support services for the victim.

Extracted recommendations

100 recommendations pulled from the report
# Recommendation Addressed to
R1 Staffordshire Police to ensure that all staff in the contact centre receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire Police
R10 Victim Gateway to review their guidelines for the triage of domestic abuse cases to ensure that, where appropriate, exceptions can be made to joint work cases with specialist services or to make follow up welfare calls to offer more emotional support whilst victims are waiting for counselling to start with Staffordshire Women’s Aid. Victim Gateway
R100 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R11 Victim Gateway to ensure that all staff receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Victim Gateway
R12 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R13 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R14 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R15 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R16 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R17 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R18 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R19 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R2 Staffordshire Police to ensure that all staff in the contact centre receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire Police
R20 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R21 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R22 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R23 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R24 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R25 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R26 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R27 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R28 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R29 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R3 Staffordshire Police to ensure that all staff receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire Police
R30 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R31 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R32 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R33 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R34 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R35 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R36 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R37 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R38 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R39 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R4 Staffordshire Police to ensure that all staff receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire Police
R40 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R41 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R42 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R43 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R44 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R45 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R46 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R47 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R48 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R49 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R5 Staffordshire Police to ensure that all staff receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire Police
R50 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R51 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R52 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R53 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R54 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R55 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R56 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R57 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R58 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R59 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R6 Staffordshire Police to ensure that all staff receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire Police
R60 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R61 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R62 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R63 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R64 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R65 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R66 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R67 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R68 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R69 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R7 Staffordshire Women’s Aid to review their service specification for counselling to ensure that it is fit for purpose and that it meets the needs of victims of domestic abuse, including those experiencing high levels of anxiety or mental health problems. Staffordshire Women’s Aid
R70 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R71 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R72 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R73 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R74 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R75 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R76 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R77 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R78 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R79 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R8 Staffordshire Women’s Aid to ensure that all staff receive training on the importance of challenging the decisions of other agencies, particularly around the provision of physical security measures to victims of domestic abuse. Staffordshire Women’s Aid
R80 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R81 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R82 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R83 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R84 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R85 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R86 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R87 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R88 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R89 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R9 Staffordshire Women’s Aid to ensure that all staff receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire Women’s Aid
R90 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R91 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R92 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R93 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
R94 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (Clare’s Law) and that formal arrangements for recording and decision making are used in all cases. Staffordshire County Council
R95 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the identification and recording of stalking and harassment offences, including the importance of effective cross referencing of incidents and database research. Staffordshire County Council
R96 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective multi-agency working in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of MARAC and other multi-agency forums. Staffordshire County Council
R97 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective risk management and safeguarding in stalking and harassment cases, including the use of all available protective measures. Staffordshire County Council
R98 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the importance of effective investigation of stalking and harassment offences, including the seizure of electronic evidence and the use of all available investigative avenues. Staffordshire County Council
R99 Staffordshire County Council to ensure that all staff involved in the commissioning of domestic abuse services receive training on the appropriate application of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessment model, including the importance of considering apparent victim complicity in any breach of a Non-molestation Order. Staffordshire County Council
Recommendations extracted from the published report. Source: Home Office DHR Library. View full report ↗