Source · IOPC Learning Case

National recommendation - The College of Policing, June 2021

Ref: 2020/137342 Recommended 15 Jun 2021 Response due 10 Aug 2021

Domestic abuse Welfare and vulnerable people

A woman reported to police the behaviour of her ex-boyfriend who had been harassing her. During completion of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Violence (DASH) form, the victim highlighted that the perpetrator suffered from PTSD, anxiety and had threatened to take his own life. The man subsequently took his own life before the police had the opportunity to speak with him about the alleged offences.

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Recommendations

1 total

Recommendation 1

The IOPC recommends that the College of Policing explores potential opportunities to support forces in managing the risk posed by perpetrators of domestic abuse (to either victims, others or themselves) who express credible suicidal threats or ideation. When completing a DASH risk assessment with officers, the victim disclosed that the perpetrator suffered from PTSD and had previously threatened to take his own life. This information was recorded on the DASH but not recorded on other police systems in relation to the perpetrator as it was not considered that the risk to the perpetrator was high. The perpetrator did take his own life some days later prior to police speaking with him in relation to the incident. No causal link was found between the suicide and the police response but the opportunity to record intelligence about the perpetrator was missed.

Addressed to: College of Policing

Linked bodies: College of Policing

Accepted

Force response

Do you accept the recommendation? Yes As you will be aware, threats of suicide are frequently used by perpetrators of domestic abuse as a way to increase their control over their victims. Both the DASH and College developed DARA risk assessment tools seek evidence from victims about threats of this sort made by perpetrators because it helps responders to understand the nature of threat to the victim but also the nature of coercive and controlling behaviour being practised by the suspect. The DASH and DARA risk assessments are designed to establish the risks to the victim. We would expect that, if risks to other people become apparent during the DASH or DARA risk assessment process, responders would recognise that and take effective action to mitigate or remove it. t would appear from this case that the risk of harm to the person making the threat of suicide may not have been recognised. We at the College are aware of the increasing evidence regarding suicides following police contact (both in the IOPC publication on deaths following police contact and in a forthcoming publication on domestic related deaths). As a result, we plan to make entries in both Domestic Abuse and Mental Health APP to the effect that responders must consider the risk of harm to a suspect who expresses or otherwise displays an intention to commit suicide.