Liverpool review

The police (working with the Police and Crime Commissioner) provide assurance to CitySafe and the Domestic Abuse Partnership Board that training on stalking prevention orders and the national stalking and harassment protocol has been provided to all frontline officers. They should also report on take-up by police staff of Mersey Care and LCC’s suicide prevention training offer.

The police and PCC to agree data it will provide to the partnerships, on: timeliness of stalking and harassment investigations. involvement of professional support networks where victims have EUPD to ensure a trauma-informed approach. referrals by the police under VRPF1 or MARAM called by police staff for vulnerable victims/ perpetrators for stalking/ harassment.

The Partnership, working with domestic abuse providers, police and PCC, provide a practitioner’s briefing (taking into account the published CPS guidance) with descriptors so that victims and perpetrators (as well as practitioners) know how to distinguish between the different offences, what information to share to evidence legal thresholds for each type of offence and how these interface with civil powers so that victims and practitioners are empowered to prevent ongoing harm and perpetrators can more quickly be held to account. This should also highlight existing processes for multi-agency risk management (including s42 Care Act duties and MARAM) and referral pathways for existing services in Liverpool (including those offered by MDVS) to support victims of stalking and the ‘make a change’ intervention programme . for perpetrators

The Partnership write to local courts liaison groups and the Chief Constable to seek assurance that recommendations from the joint Courts and Home Office review have been implemented. Particular regard should be had to the requirement that ‘forces consult with the victim or a stalking advocate when drafting conditions to ensure they are tailored to the victim’s case.’

The Partnership (working with the Domestic Abuse Partnership Board) to explore options for a single point of access for people experiencing domestic abuse, include stalking/ harassment similar to SARC but for those experiencing domestic abuse, including stalking.

ICB provide assurance that they will actively supporting the development of domestic abuse champions across primary care and secondary mental health trusts, with a specific focus on upskilling frontline practitioners to complete DASH/SASH risk assessments and, with reference to this case, that the onus is on practitioners to come together for a shared risk management plan so the burden is not on the victim to coordinate their care and progress the police investigation.

RLUH and Mersey Care should provide assurance to the Partnership that their discharge pathway from A&E and MHLT has been reviewed to strengthen transfers of care and support cohesive and collaborative safety and care planning between the patient and services on each side of the transfer.

Mersey Care Trust provide assurance that staff within CMHT, CRHT and MLHT have completed suicide prevention training in line with the Trust’s suicide prevention policy. That relevant assessment and, particularly the extended care plan for those with EUPD, have been updated to include specific questions regarding suicide risk factors, domestic abuse (stalking and harassment) and emergency contact are included within safety plans. The Trust should consider, as part of their action plan for this review, timetabling within 2023/24 workplan an audit of case files from CMHT, CRHT and MLHL to explore if safety plans comply with their Personality Disorder and safeguarding policies as well as good practice expectations.

Partner agencies working with Merseyside Police should produce a briefing on powers of entry and the information required to trigger those powers if a person’s welfare requires checking. In preparation for the role out of ‘Right Person; Right Care’ all partners agencies should highlight their own organisational duty of care to conduct welfare checks of service users who might be a risk, rather than relying on police to carry these out in all situations.

The Partnership may find it beneficial to review guidance on the MARAC referral pathway to remind practitioners they are lawfully entitled (and may have a duty of care) to utilise powers under s42 Care Act to bring together practitioners with the adult at risk to formulate shared understanding of needs, risks and agree interim safety plans.

Review stalking/harassment risk assessment so there is more weight given to psychological impact, particularly for those who have existing mental health conditions which, research confirms, escalates the risk of suicide.

Merseyside Police should provide an assurance report to the Partnership in respect of the timeliness of referrals to the CPS in respect of stalking and harassment cases and, if this identifies systemic issues in respect of delay, devise an action plan to remedy this.