Domestic abuse cases in spotlight

Concern on conviction rates

JUST one in every 14 domestic abuse cases recorded by police in Leicestershire results in a conviction.

Police figures show that there were 14,606 domestic abuse-related offences recorded in our area in 2018/19.

But separate figures from the Crown Prosecution Service reveal only 1,008 people were convicted of the crime.

It means just 7% of domestic abuse crimes in Leicestershire see the abuser brought to justice.

The figure is even more shocking when you consider there were a further 6,507 incidents reported to police in our area that were not recorded as a crime.

Thousands more cases will have gone unreported altogether.

A charity has called the scale of domestic abuse “a national travesty”.

The low number of convictions is mostly due to the fact that only a small number of people are actually charged after a domestic abuse offence is reported.

It means the vast majority of domestic abuse cases in our region never make it as far as court.

Of the 14,606 crimes recorded in Leicestershire, the CPS figures show that only 1,270 went as far as court, and 1,008 people were convicted.

It means that 79% of prosecutions for domestic abuse offences were successful.

The figures come at a time when more and more domestic abuse crimes are being recorded by Leicestershire police.

The 14,606 recorded in 2018/19 is up by 29% from 11,354 in 201/18 - and is the highest number since published records began in 2015/16.

Domestic abuse offences now make up 14% of all crime recorded by Leicestershire police force.

Sandra Horley CBE, chief executive of the national domestic abuse charity Refuge, said: “These statistics should serve as a serious wake-up call to the Government that domestic abuse is a major crime in this country and must be top of the political agenda.

“It is clear that the likelihood of women and girls experiencing domestic abuse at some point in their lives is increasing.

“This is devastating news given this time last year we knew one in four women would experience domestic abuse - this figure is edging towards one in three.

“Alarmingly, incidents of domestic sexual assault are also increasing. This rise is set against a backdrop of lower conviction rates. These statistics are a national travesty.

“The only way to address violence against women and girls is to prioritise legislation which gives domestic abuse national attention, works to reduce the numbers whilst increasing funding and the number of specialist services to which women can turn to for support.

“Refuge calls on the future Government to bring the Domestic Abuse Bill back to parliament, and to work towards its swift passage into law. Women’s lives depend on it.”

The ONS say the increase may reflect improved recording by the police and increased reporting by victims.

Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for domestic abuse, said: “Police have worked hard to improve our response to domestic abuse over recent years and this is reflected in statistics that show increased reporting and better recording.

“In the past many verbal arguments were recorded as an incident and not a crime, yet technically these can be a common assault, harassment or threat of violence.

“These may have little prospect of a prosecution but recording them allows dedicated domestic abuse officers to safeguard victims, build evidence and recognise patterns.

“Part of the increase is also down to better identification and reporting of domestic abuse, particularly coercive and controlling behaviour.

“We are continuing to improve our response to this to bring more offenders to justice.”