Recurring concern
Domestic abuse risk assessment is unreliable
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Request correctionFirst reported 16 Apr 2015•Latest report 2 May 2026
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the DASH system and controls specifically dedicated to it, including outdated or unclear forms, failure to complete assessments, inadequate DASH risk-evaluation training, and failure to perform checks or follow-up required for DASH referrals.
Not included
- Excludes generic risk-assessment, recording, training or information-sharing deficiencies not explicitly tied to the DASH domestic-abuse risk-assessment system.
- Excludes deficiencies in wider domestic-abuse investigation, safeguarding or family-safety activity unless they directly concern the operation of DASH risk assessment.
- Do not treat the seed assertions as establishing final membership.
- Reports
- 6
- Individual concerns
- 6
- Date range
- 2015–2026
- Stated actions
- 11
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to complete or attempt a DASH risk assessment
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Train 60 Trust-wide Domestic Abuse Ambassadors in DASH assessment and provide quarterly supervision through Named Professionals.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Provide safeguarding case advice and regular safeguarding supervision, including enhanced inpatient safeguarding huddles and supervision.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation Trust -
Action
Provide staff guidance and regular advice to service users and carers on safeguarding, community safety and police routes for mitigating identified risks.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Family and community safety risks should be addressed through safeguarding, community safety pathways or police liaison rather than direct health responses.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation Trust
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Concerns raised1
Failure of the domestic abuse risk assessment form to clearly include psychological harm from coercive and controlling behaviour within serious harm
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Action
Add the College of Policing serious-harm definition to the current domestic abuse risk assessment form.
Stated by Thames Valley Police -
Action
Explore an interim solution for incorporating DARA questions and the serious-harm definition into the current crime-recording system.
Stated by Thames Valley Police -
Action
Review the policing implementation of the DASH risk-assessment tool.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ Council
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Action
Develop, pilot and evaluate the DARA risk-assessment tool and aligned training for identifying coercive-control patterns.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ Council
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Concerns raised1
DASH form not adequately updated
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Use of DASH risk assessments and vulnerability hubs is an operational policing matter rather than a government matter.
Stated by Home Office
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Concerns raised1
Failure of the Officer in the Case to complete required DASH risk assessment and DA Matters training
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Provide domestic abuse knowledge products covering victim-focused risk assessment, vulnerability, cultural competence, coercive control and Honour Based Abuse.
Stated by College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council
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Concerns raised1
Limited police training in domestic abuse risk evaluation and scoring
This report raised 21 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Deliver rolling virtual continuing professional development covering domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, risk assessment, DASH, strangulation and related safeguarding topics.
Stated by Greater Manchester Police -
Action
Provide clearer domestic abuse risk-grading guidance and disseminate it through continuous professional development and safeguarding training.
Stated by Greater Manchester Police -
Action
Establish a safeguarding course for officers and staff who evaluate risk and provide formal training on identifying risk factors.
Stated by Greater Manchester Police
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
Other named respondents are responsible for addressing the coroner’s concerns; this response covers only broader learning-sharing issues within its remit.
Stated by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board
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Concerns raised1
Failure to conduct police database checks on standard-risk DASH referrals
This report raised 27 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Data last updated 7 September 2026