Response to a domestic incident - South Wales Police, February 2019

During the early evening on 20 February 2019, a 999 call was made to South Wales Police to make a third-party report of an ongoing domestic incident. The caller also reported that she had been threatened by the man involved when she asked the couple to be quiet. A short time later police officers arrived and arrested the man for various offences, including assaulting the victim. The victim declined to make a complaint of assault, nor did she provide a statement.

The case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who assessed the evidence and authorised a charge for a public order offence in relation to the man’s behaviour towards the person who made the telephone report. No other charges were authorised by the CPS. The man appeared at court and was released on bail.

During the afternoon of 24 February 2019, a report was made to South Wales Police that a woman had been stabbed by a man. The parties involved were the man and woman who had been involved in the domestic incident on 20 February 2019. The man was later jailed for 14 years for attempted murder

Our investigators reviewed police records, obtained accounts from witnesses to the events and reviewed officers’ body-worn video footage. They also obtained witness accounts from the police officers who were involved in responding to the incident and considered relevant policies and procedures.

Based on the evidence available we found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings, or had committed a criminal offence.

We were of the opinion that there had been scope to seek additional evidence, which may have strengthened the case against the suspect as regards the alleged assault on the woman. Taking into account all of the circumstances, we considered that this could be proportionately addressed as a performance issue for the four officers involved.

We completed our investigation in September 2019.

After reviewing our report, South Wales Police agreed that the four officers would receive management action, as well as an informal debrief to reflect on individual performance and learning. The force also agreed to change its Domestic Abuse Policy to provide clearer guidance to officers on the circumstances in which a victim should be notified of a suspect’s release from court.