Response to domestic violence incidents - Kent Police, February–March 2018

On 27 February 2018 a man was arrested at his home following an alleged domestic assault. He was released from police custody without charge on 28 February and returned home.

Shortly after he arrived, his partner called the police to ask them to remove the man from their home. Officers arrived and the man left voluntarily in their company.

On 1 March 2018, at approximately 7am, the man returned home, where he forced entry, and seriously injured his partner by stabbing her multiple times with a knife.

We considered whether the calls received and dealt with by attending officers had been appropriately and properly addressed and investigated, and whether Kent Police responded to all incidents appropriately. We served five officers with notices that their actions were being investigated for possible breach of professional standards.

Investigators obtained written accounts from the five subject officers, reviewed information held on Kent Police computer systems, custody CCTV, recordings, body-worn video footage and relevant policies, procedures and legislation.

We found that officers did not contact the Central Reference Unit (CRU) for a risk assessment, as per force policy on domestic violence at the time. However, the evidence indicated that each officer in attendance on both dates completed their own risk assessment and took the time to seek further advice, information and guidance. There was therefore no evidence to indicate the omission in calling CRU was a matter of complacency or a lack of due diligence. We were of the opinion that the three officers had no case to answer for their failure to contact the CRU, nor their supervisory officer for failing to ensure they did this.

We were also of the opinion that a fifth officer had no case to answer for failing to interview the children as potential witnesses. The officer had decided not to pursue that line of enquiry after taking advice from a superior. The officer provided a rationale for their decision. We were of the view that the evidence indicated that the officer had completed a full and thorough investigation.

We identified learning opportunities for four officers, who should be reminded of the need to keep up to date with developments in policy, and to document deviations from policy, even when justified, and for a fifth officer, to record decisions not to take specific actions. We completed our investigation in November 2018.

After reviewing our report, Kent Police agreed. They advised that the officers would be notified, and a note made in their professional development plan.