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
Somerset review
CSP: Somerset
Published: September 2023
Year of death: 2012
Extracted: 8 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 identified concerns regarding the police's assessment of malicious communication and witness intimidation complaints, and the GP practice's provision of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) information and continuity of patient care. Workplace inter-racial tensions and DVA awareness were also noted.
Extracted recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressed to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | It has been recommended that there should be increased requests by police officers for ACRO checks on foreign national suspects, witnesses and victims. Although these checks are currently available the recommendation includes measures to increase awareness and use by police officers and CPS lawyers such as awareness training, and internal publicity. This recommendation would not have had an impact on the outcome of this case | Avon & Somerset Constabulary | Crown Prosecution Service |
| 2 | A recommendation that a system is put in place to ensure that STORM logs are closed with an appropriate supporting rationale if no Guardian crime or incident report is to be raised. Measures were already in place to implement this recommendation and have since been enacted. Logging and recording issues noted in this case are unlikely to arise in the future. Again this recommendation would not have had an impact on the outcome of this case | Avon & Somerset Constabulary |
| R1 | The Avon & Somerset Constabulary must ensure that all complaints of witness intimidation are thoroughly investigated. It is crucial that the police enforce this serious offence. First to protect witnesses and to ensure witness cooperation. Secondly to protect the integrity of judicial proceedings and the judicial system. It cannot be asserted that this recommendation if followed would have changed the outcome. | Avon & Somerset Constabulary |
| R2a | The panel recommends that the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group writes to all GP practices urging them to regularly check waiting areas to ensure that DVA resources are available and given priority space. This communication should be addressed to the Senior Partner, Practice Manager and named DVA Lead if known. | Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group |
| R2b | That each GP practice adopts the policy of having a named DVA GP lead. | Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group |
| R2c | The panel recommends that the Somerset CCG recommends to GP Practices that they are familiar with both CAADA and the RCGP websites that have good guidance on responding to domestic violence and GP e-learning. NICE guidelines published February 2014. | Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group |
| R3 | The SSP will evaluate whether liaising with other large companies in the area is a worthwhile route to disseminating information about local specialist services. | Safer Somerset Partnership |
| R4 | Review the existing SCC website with a view to including either an easily accessible central direct point of information or links to DVA data in Somerset. To include An overview of the DHR process and links to published DHR reports. Reviews, audits and inspections of services related to Somerset DVA services e.g. HMIC’s review of Avon & Somerset Constabulary’s approach to tackling domestic abuse (2014) current statistics and data captured by organisations such as the Avon & Somerset Police, Somerset Intelligence Network (SINE) and voluntary sector (eg BCHA), Somerset Survivors. Relevant SCC policies and reports e.g. Somerset Interpersonal violence strategy downloadable literature and resources relating to national and local specialist DVA services including leaflets and posters in English and other languages Links to relevant websites as below such as www.somersetsurvivors.org.uk | Safer Somerset Partnership | Somerset County Council |
| Recommendations extracted from the published report. Source: Home Office DHR Library. View full report ↗ | ||