Police abuse hotline is a start but forces must properly deal with complaints, says Commissioner

Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, has cautiously embraced the introduction of the Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service, a nationwide helpline facilitated by Crimestoppers.

The service, commissioned jointly by the NPCC and APCC, aims to empower the public to report instances of corruption and abuse involving police officers, staff, and volunteers, expanding upon the success of the Metropolitan Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Hotline.

In tandem with this initiative, the NPCC has unveiled a revamped national framework for England and Wales, delineating strategies for addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG). This revised approach emphasises the preparedness of police forces to combat VAWG, prioritises protective measures for individuals and communities, and pledges relentless pursuit of VAWG perpetrators.

It places a significant emphasis on prevention, with policing committed to supporting collaborative efforts towards a comprehensive system-wide approach to tackling VAWG.

The Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service targets incidents involving officers, staff, and volunteers who engage in various forms of misconduct, including sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, discriminatory behaviour, and abuse of authority for personal gain. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, said:

“There should be no place in the police force for perpetrators of domestic and sexual abuse. That victims will have somewhere independent to report these awful crimes is a start.

But this hotline will only make a difference if complaints are properly dealt with. That requires a more consistent approach across all forces to ensure thorough and independent investigation of these crimes, and legislative changes to equip forces to eradicate perpetrators from their ranks.

I want to see amendments to the criminal justice bill to enable forces to immediately sack those found guilty and take warrant cards off those under investigation for domestic and sexual abuse.”