First reported 18 Nov 2020•Latest report 19 Sep 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the dedicated domestic abuse investigation process, including investigation capacity, recognition of domestic abuse or coercive control, investigation quality, safeguarding or investigation planning, implementation, monitoring and audit where these controls directly concern domestic abuse investigations.
Not included
Excludes generic police staffing, training, supervision or auditing deficiencies that are not directly tied to domestic abuse investigations.
Excludes domestic abuse risk-assessment, protective-measure or safeguarding failures where no deficiency in the domestic abuse investigation process is identified.
Excludes failures concerning general criminal investigations or investigations of other hazards without a direct domestic abuse investigation connection.
Excludes outcomes or missed opportunities where no unsafe domestic abuse investigation control is asserted.
Reports
4
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
7
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2020–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
11
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.
Home Office3
Crown Prosecution Service1
Department of Health and Social Care1
Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership1
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
Greater Manchester Police1
Independent Office for Police Conduct1
Metropolitan Police Service1
Ministry of Justice1
National Police Chiefs’ Council1
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust1
Police and Crime Commissioner for West Midlands1
Surrey Police1
Trafford Borough Council1
West Midlands Police1
Police force4
Ministerial department3
English metropolitan district council1
Health-system partnership1
National policing body1
NHS trust1
Non-ministerial department1
Police and crime commissioner1
Police oversight body1
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.
South London
Concerns raised1
Failure of investigations to identify victims of domestic abuse and coercive control
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each 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.2
Action
Create and operate the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offences Investigation Unit with specialist investigation teams and victim-support capacity.
Stated by Metropolitan Police ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 July 2026.
Action
Provide £13.1 million to establish a National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection.
Stated by Home OfficeStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 3 July 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
No specific risk to Rebekah was apparent because no domestic abuse allegations or concerning evidence had been reported to or identified by the IOPC.
Stated by Independent Office for Police ConductDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Insufficient staffing and resources for domestic abuse investigations
Responses linked to these concerns
Each 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.6
Action
Recruit an additional 20,000 police officers through the Police Uplift Programme by March 2023.
Stated by Home OfficeStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Maintain the restructured investigation arrangements, including Review and Allocation Team processing, Adult Complex teams and dedicated supervisory responsibilities.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Restructure domestic abuse investigations into Adult Investigation Teams and Adult Complex Investigation Teams.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Increase staffing allocated to domestic abuse management and investigation across the West Midlands and Eastern area.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Operate a Review and Allocation Team to assess domestic abuse reports, verify risk grading, and allocate cases for investigation.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Action
Require Adult Investigation Team Sergeants to review, triage, set actions for, and allocate incoming crime reports each shift.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
Position
Insufficient police staffing and funding prevent West Midlands Police from fully addressing domestic abuse demand and improving operational practice.
Stated by Police and Crime CommissionerUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Officer deployment, including staffing decisions, is a local responsibility for Chief Constables because police forces are operationally independent.
Stated by Home OfficeRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The new structure, resourcing, information technology and organisational processes manage domestic abuse demand in a controlled and safe manner.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Current domestic abuse investigation staffing has increased substantially, and the relevant team’s workload is considered manageable.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Investigation team staffing capacity is not a determining factor in decisions to file domestic abuse reports or pursue further action.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Surrey
Concerns raised3
Lack of systematic monitoring and auditing of domestic abuse investigations
Lack of call-handler training on managing reports relating to ongoing domestic abuse investigations
Lack of timely effective supervision of domestic abuse investigations
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Manchester South
Concerns raised2
Reduced specialist support and oversight for low and medium risk domestic abuse cases
Failure to pursue further enquiries supporting victimless domestic abuse prosecutions
This report raised 20 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each 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
Action
Use the revised domestic abuse policy to define responsibilities for considering evidence-led prosecutions.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 24 December 2020.
Action
Attend CPS evidence-led prosecution training and develop comparable training for the wider GMP workforce.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 24 December 2020.
Action
Invite GMP domestic abuse investigators to CPS training so aligned evidence-led prosecution training can be delivered across GMP.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 24 December 2020.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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 BoardRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Prosecutors have no power to formally direct police to undertake reasonable lines of enquiry; their role is advisory.
Stated by CPS North WestOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
The police are responsible for complying with prosecutor action plans and providing further evidence, material or information within agreed periods.
Stated by CPS North WestRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
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Includes failures of the dedicated domestic abuse investigation process, including investigation capacity, recognition of domestic abuse or coercive control, investigation quality, safeguarding or investigation planning, implementation, monitoring and audit where these controls directly concern domestic abuse investigations.
