Recommendation - Northumbria Police, April 2026

The IOPC recommends that Northumbria Police should conduct a review of their policy and practice in relation to post-arrest management and bail decisions in cases involving domestic abuse or violence against women and girls. The review should pay particular regard to how systems are updated with relevant information, how information is used in considering bail conditions, how officers engage with victims about bail, how this contact is recorded, and the quality control process for bail decisions. There should be a focus on how the force complies with national guidance and legislation such as the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on post-arrest management in domestic abuse cases and the duty to consult with victims under section 47ZZA of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). Action should be taken to address any opportunities for systemic improvements identified in the review. This learning has arisen from an IOPC review of a complaint investigation by Northumbria Police. A woman who had experienced domestic abuse complained that her new address was inappropriately disclosed to her abusive former partner in his pre-charge bail conditions. He had been arrested and subsequently released on bail following a report of violent offending towards her. The woman had moved to a new address, unknown to the suspect, to reduce the risk to her and her children. This was facilitated by a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), and police systems should have been updated to reflect the risk of harm the suspect posed to the woman and her children. Records should also have shown that the suspect was unaware of the new address, and that it should not be disclosed to him. The evidence suggests that this information was not readily available to officers who arrested, interviewed and then bailed the former partner following a further incident of violence. This led to the complainant's address being disclosed to her former partner in the pre-charge bail conditions, putting her and her children at risk of further offending. The woman further complained that, when the suspect was released on bail, the officers transporting him then planned to take the suspect to the woman’s address – despite the fact that one of the conditions of the suspect’s bail was not to attend that address. This would have resulted in the suspect immediately breaching the bail conditions, and placing the woman and children at risk, but was avoided when the officers phoned the woman who then informed the officers of the error. This caused distress for the woman. The complaint investigation was unable to establish which officer had called the woman. APP states that, before a domestic abuse suspect is released from police custody, they should inform the victim of the suspect’s impending release and record this notification. The fact the complaint investigation was unable to establish which officer had called the woman suggests that the notification was not recorded in line with APP. This case highlights the importance of good record keeping on appropriate systems, good practice of checking information, effective victim engagement, good communication and systems which mitigate the potential for human error. This recommendation, if implemented, would help to safeguard victims, reassure officers, ensure the force complies with PACE and national guidance, and prevent suspects causing further harm.

Accepted

Force response