Officer failed to safeguard stab victim – Hertfordshire Constabulary, August 2021

Our investigation looked into the actions of Hertfordshire police officers following a report made by the woman in August 2021 that her ex-husband had breached a non-molestation order after she saw him on doorbell footage standing outside her home.

The man had been convicted of domestic abuse offences against the woman in 2020 and a non-molestation order was granted in October that year. In January 2021, the man was arrested, charged and fined for breaching the order.

Following the further breach incident in August, the woman attended Watford Police Station and showed two officers the doorbell footage. The officers spoke to the man on the phone and reminded him of the conditions of the non-molestation order. The man was not arrested and no further action was taken against him. The following month the woman suffered serious injuries after she was stabbed several times by him.

We started our investigation after a mandatory referral from Hertfordshire Police in September following the attack. As part of our investigation we obtained statements from the officers involved and the woman and reviewed crime and safeguarding reports.

Our investigation concluded in September 2022 and we found that the officers should face a gross misconduct hearing for failing to obtain evidence of the offence, accurately record information from the victim or complete an appropriate risk assessment with the woman.

We also determined that the two officers failed to safeguard the victim and her family and relay accurate information to their case supervisor.

In November 2023, a panel determined that the officers breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to duties and responsibilities, orders and instructions and honesty and integrity.

One officer was dismissed without notice and the former officer would have been sacked with immediate effect had he not resigned and left the force in September 2023.

We also found performance issues for a third officer – a police sergeant – in relation to the quality of the supervision provided. We determined that the officer should undergo the reflective practice review process.

An officer reflecting on their actions is a formal process reflected in legislation. The reflective practice review process consists of a fact-finding stage and a discussion stage, followed by the production of a reflective review development report. The discussion must include:

•    a discussion of the practice requiring improvement and related circumstances that have been identified, and
•    the identification of key lessons to be learnt by the participating officer, line management or police force concerned, to address the matter and prevent a reoccurrence of the matter.

We carefully considered whether there were any organisational learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

In this case we identified learning but following consultation, we concluded not to issue any recommendations using our legislative powers.