Concerns raised 4 Lack of understanding of controlling and coercive behaviour and its impact on victims View source Lack of understanding by front line officers of the circumstances for applying for a DVPN View source Lack of awareness of the link between domestic abuse and suicide View source Lack of understanding of whether arrest is required before triggering a referral to the DAISU View source See 1 more 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 this recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised. 12
Action
Disseminate domestic-abuse and suicide learning through partner events, professional forums, other police forces and case-study training.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Establish and roll out a DA Influencers initiative training officers across ranks and areas to share and champion coercive-control knowledge.
Stated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Deliver DVPN, Clare’s Law and Stalking Protection Order guidance and training, supported by process information in the Vulnerability Information Portal.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Embed domestic-abuse and suicide priorities in daily officer briefings and force management meetings, with statutory review-team attendance and vulnerability oversight.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Deliver sudden-death and domestic-abuse training highlighting the link between domestic abuse and suicide, professional curiosity and evidence-led investigation.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Provide initial DA Matters First Response training instructing officers to identify domestic abuse in suspected suicides and conduct timely records checks.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Create and maintain a Vulnerability Information Portal providing officers and staff with continuously accessible domestic abuse, suicide and safeguarding guidance.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Establish a dedicated domestic abuse training role to increase frontline knowledge of coercive control, civil orders and safeguarding processes.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Deliver specialist domestic-abuse training inputs to detectives, supervisors, Police Now officers and PCSOs, including evidence gathering, protective orders, DARA and safeguarding.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Deliver recurring domestic abuse training covering coercive control, stalking, investigations, risk assessment and safeguarding.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Provide new DAISU staff with a regularly updated guidance manual covering domestic abuse, coercive control, civil orders, evidence-led prosecution and safeguarding.
Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source
Action
Deliver booked frontline training on stalking and coercive and controlling behaviour in August 2024.
Stated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 9 May 2024. View source See 9 more actions
×
AI-generated summary
Kellie Marie SUTTON · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Kellie Sutton died in hospital on 26 August 2017 after suffering irreversible brain injury following a hanging on 23 August 2017. She had been subjected to controlling and coercive behaviour and domestic abuse by her partner. The principal concerns were inadequate understanding of controlling and coercive behaviour, insufficient awareness of the link between domestic abuse and suicide, and uncertainty among frontline officers about the use of DVPNs and DAISU referrals.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Hertfordshire Constabulary; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of understanding of controlling and coercive behaviour and its impact on victims
Wider context from the report “1. There was a lack of understanding of controlling and coercive behaviour, what it is, and the impact on victims .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Hertfordshire Constabulary; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of understanding by front line officers of the circumstances for applying for a DVPN
Wider context from the report “3. There was a lack of understanding by front line officers of the circumstances in which a DVPN could be applied for , and whether it was necessary for an individual to have been subject to arrest prior to triggering a referral to the DAISU.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Hertfordshire Constabulary; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of awareness of the link between domestic abuse and suicide
Wider context from the report “2. There was a lack of awareness of the link between domestic abuse and suicide .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Hertfordshire Constabulary; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of understanding of whether arrest is required before triggering a referral to the DAISU
Wider context from the report “3. There was a lack of understanding by front line officers of the circumstances in which a DVPN could be applied for, and whether it was necessary for an individual to have been subject to arrest prior to triggering a referral to the DAISU .
” Open source report
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Disseminate domestic-abuse and suicide learning through partner events, professional forums, other police forces and case-study training.
Verbatim wording from the response “These sessions were tailored and delivered across the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership at a number of events and forums for Professionals from across the county, involving Police, Social services, Health, County and District Councils and charities. This input has also been delivered to other Police Forces. Hertfordshire Constabulary have worked alongside a specialist organisation ‘DA Matters’, who deliver training to police forces nationally. Kellie’s story is used as a case study to educate all officers on how they should respond to Domestic Abuse incidents in the future. Kellie’s family have supported the Constabulary using Kellie’s story in this way.” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Establish and roll out a DA Influencers initiative training officers across ranks and areas to share and champion coercive-control knowledge.
Verbatim wording from the response “• A new DA Influencers initiative has started in which officers from a variety of areas within the force and of all ranks are trained in coercive and controlling behaviour and the expectation is that they will share and champion their knowledge and provide advice and training across the force. This is in the early stages of delivery and guest speakers with lived experience will feature within this process.” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Deliver DVPN, Clare’s Law and Stalking Protection Order guidance and training, supported by process information in the Vulnerability Information Portal.
Verbatim wording from the response “New guidance and training of DVPN, Clare’s Law and Stalking Protection Orders has been delivered to all Frontline and Neighbourhood Policing Teams including Supervisors, and there are dedicated sections within the Vulnerability Information Portal. This can provide detailed information and advice on the process, including a simple visual flowchart. Further to this, officers are guided to information provided by the College of Policing, to re-enforce that these can be obtained without the need for arrest:” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Embed domestic-abuse and suicide priorities in daily officer briefings and force management meetings, with statutory review-team attendance and vulnerability oversight.
Verbatim wording from the response “All Hertfordshire Officers are expected to be briefed daily for top priorities, information, and intelligence on DA. A section has been added to highlight the link between DA and suicides, this is to encourage professional curiosity, evidence led prosecutions and coercive behaviours. This is now a regular item within briefings where we have a rolling DA focus which is driven by the key trends / intel at the time. The Statutory review team now attend all Force and Safeguarding weekday DMM. The DMM structure has changed ensuring a key focus on vulnerability including any sudden deaths that require SIO oversight.” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Deliver sudden-death and domestic-abuse training highlighting the link between domestic abuse and suicide, professional curiosity and evidence-led investigation.
Verbatim wording from the response “Training regarding this policy has been delivered to all front-line officers and Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) within the last 6-8 weeks. Student officers, Detectives (including sergeants and Inspectors) are captured by the Bedfordshire Police, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Constabularies collaborated Learning and Development team. Further plans are being drafted to deliver wider training to capture the remaining relevant staff. The sudden death training also focuses on the failings identified from the Stephen Port investigation and critically emphasises the need for professional curiosity at unexpected deaths, the risk of categorising a sudden death without a global understanding of the circumstances and the risks of prejudice and bias.” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Provide initial DA Matters First Response training instructing officers to identify domestic abuse in suspected suicides and conduct timely records checks.
Verbatim wording from the response “As part of initial training, all officers receive a DA Matters First Response training package. This is supported by the College of Policing and contains an input on being able to identify domestic abuse in suspected suicides. The following advice and guidance is provided:” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Create and maintain a Vulnerability Information Portal providing officers and staff with continuously accessible domestic abuse, suicide and safeguarding guidance.
Verbatim wording from the response “A Vulnerability Information Portal was created in response to the investigation into Kellie’s death in August 2023. This is an ‘App’ installed on officers’ work mobile phones and laptops, where they can easily access information about subjects including coercive control, Domestic Abuse and suicide, including many other safeguarding matters. It gives all officers and staff practical advice on how to provide the best service to a victim at the first point of contact and is accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is easy to navigate and locate important guidance documents.” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Establish a dedicated domestic abuse training role to increase frontline knowledge of coercive control, civil orders and safeguarding processes.
Verbatim wording from the response “A DAISU Detective Sergeant moved to a dedicated training role in September 2022 and was tasked with providing training to increase knowledge to frontline officers on a wide variety of domestic abuse subjects. This included an update on processes, how to identify and investigate coercive and controlling behaviour, how to seek civil orders (including DVPN/DVPO’s) as well as other safeguarding measures including reinforcing the Clare’s Law process.” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Deliver specialist domestic-abuse training inputs to detectives, supervisors, Police Now officers and PCSOs, including evidence gathering, protective orders, DARA and safeguarding.
Verbatim wording from the response “Input has been provided to ‘Police Now’ detectives, PCSO’s and sergeants/first line supervisors from across the constabulary including the following:” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Deliver recurring domestic abuse training covering coercive control, stalking, investigations, risk assessment and safeguarding.
Verbatim wording from the response “████████ report also documents DA training delivered within Hertfordshire Constabulary relative to the inquest of Kellie Sutton. Coercive Control was a relatively new offence in 2017, only introduced as legislation on the 29th December 2015. The report documents coercive control training packages that were delivered to front line officers in 2016. In April 2017, further training was provided to front line responders on coercive control, including how to recognise and investigate it.” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Provide new DAISU staff with a regularly updated guidance manual covering domestic abuse, coercive control, civil orders, evidence-led prosecution and safeguarding.
Verbatim wording from the response “DAISU have designed and regularly update a guidance manual which they provide to all officers and staff who newly join the unit. This is a comprehensive guide providing information on all areas of domestic abuse including definitions, civil orders, ‘Evidence Led’ Prosecution guidance and safeguarding advice. This manual includes the definition of coercive control and evidential ‘points to prove’ for the offence to be made out, as well as links to the Domestic Abuse Bill and the Hertfordshire Constabulary Vulnerability Handbook.” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Deliver booked frontline training on stalking and coercive and controlling behaviour in August 2024.
Verbatim wording from the response “• In August 2024, frontline training days have been booked to deliver an input on stalking and coercive & controlling behaviours.” Source location Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary
Open published response
Concerns raised 3 Failure to condition firearms licensing delegation on adequate training View source Absence of a mandatory requirement for role-specific firearms licensing training View source Lack of nationally accredited training for firearms licensing staff View source
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements No action or position from this recipient is clearly linked to the concerns in this report.
×
AI-generated summary
Maxine Betty Davison and 4 others · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
On 12 August 2021, Jake Davison used a lawfully held shotgun to kill his mother, Maxine Davison, and four other people in Keyham, Plymouth. The inquest identified serious failures in firearms licensing, including inadequate training, governance, supervision, scrutiny, information gathering and decisions to grant and return the shotgun certificate. The report expressed particular concern about the continuing lack of nationally accredited and mandatory training for firearms licensing staff and the risk of incorrect licensing decisions and future deaths.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Hertfordshire Constabulary; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to condition firearms licensing delegation on adequate training
Wider context from the report “I am concerned that there is an urgent need to develop a national accredited training for FELU staff that covers how to apply the relevant Home Office Guidance on firearms licencing including, in particular, training in assessing the suitability of applicants to be granted a licence. The development of such accredited training is vitally important to achieve consistency and drive up standards.
I am concerned that there is currently no requirement or guidance that FELU staff should undergo mandatory training. I am also concerned that there is currently no requirement that Chief Officers of Police may only delegate decision making authority regarding issuing firearms licences to a person who has undergone adequate training .
Whilst I acknowledged that the current NPCC lead for firearms licencing is now working with the College of Policing and others to develop the required training, I am concerned to ensure that the momentum to effect change after the horrific tragedy in Keyham should not be lost, as it has been in respect of lessons and recommendations over the past 27 years.
I am therefore reporting the matters above to:
The NPCC lead for firearms licencing and all other Chief Constables in England and Wales
So that each Chief Constable is made aware of my concern that, that despite the many recommendations made over the past 27 years, there continues to be a lack of nationally accredited training for their FELU staff.
I also report my concern that in the absence of such the training there is a risk that the Statutory Guidance is not being appropriately applied by FELU staff today, and so each Chief Constable may need to take steps to satisfy themselves that (i) adequate local training, of a satisfactory standard has been universally delivered to all their FELU staff and supervisors in applying the Home Office Guidance on Firearms Licencing Law (published in November 2022) and the revised Statutory Guidance for Chief officers of Police (published in February 2023) and (ii) they have only delegated decision making to persons who have undergone adequate training in firearms licencing and in applying that recent Guidance.
The College of Policing (CoP)
So that the College of Policing is made aware of my concern that
(1) despite the repeated recommendations being made over the past 27 years, and the earlier requests made specifically to the College of Policing asking for such training to be developed, no accredited training as yet exists.
(2) neither the current CoP APP guidance on firearms nor the proposed update (which I am assured is still under consultation) includes any requirement that FELU staff are trained in firearms licencing generally or trained in conducting suitability assessments in particular.
The Home Secretary and The Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire
So that they may be made aware of my concern that despite the repeated recommendations being made over the past 27 years, beginning with the Cullen report in 1996:
(i) successive governments appear to have failed to ensure that any guidance is produced that makes having training in firearms licencing generally (and in conducting suitability assessments in particular) mandatory for all FELU staff;
(ii) there appears to be no requirement that Chief Officers of Police should only delegate authority to issue and revoke licences to officers and staff who have completed adequate (and preferably nationally accredited) training .
I am concerned that the lack of accredited training combined with the absence of a mandatory requirement for all those making firearms licensing decisions to undertake adequate training for their role increases the risk of incorrect decision making and, consequently, increases the risk of future deaths.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Hertfordshire Constabulary; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Absence of a mandatory requirement for role-specific firearms licensing training
Wider context from the report “I am concerned that there is an urgent need to develop a national accredited training for FELU staff that covers how to apply the relevant Home Office Guidance on firearms licencing including, in particular, training in assessing the suitability of applicants to be granted a licence. The development of such accredited training is vitally important to achieve consistency and drive up standards.
I am concerned that there is currently no requirement or guidance that FELU staff should undergo mandatory training . I am also concerned that there is currently no requirement that Chief Officers of Police may only delegate decision making authority regarding issuing firearms licences to a person who has undergone adequate training.
Whilst I acknowledged that the current NPCC lead for firearms licencing is now working with the College of Policing and others to develop the required training, I am concerned to ensure that the momentum to effect change after the horrific tragedy in Keyham should not be lost, as it has been in respect of lessons and recommendations over the past 27 years.
I am therefore reporting the matters above to:
The NPCC lead for firearms licencing and all other Chief Constables in England and Wales
So that each Chief Constable is made aware of my concern that, that despite the many recommendations made over the past 27 years, there continues to be a lack of nationally accredited training for their FELU staff.
I also report my concern that in the absence of such the training there is a risk that the Statutory Guidance is not being appropriately applied by FELU staff today, and so each Chief Constable may need to take steps to satisfy themselves that (i) adequate local training, of a satisfactory standard has been universally delivered to all their FELU staff and supervisors in applying the Home Office Guidance on Firearms Licencing Law (published in November 2022) and the revised Statutory Guidance for Chief officers of Police (published in February 2023) and (ii) they have only delegated decision making to persons who have undergone adequate training in firearms licencing and in applying that recent Guidance.
The College of Policing (CoP)
So that the College of Policing is made aware of my concern that
(1) despite the repeated recommendations being made over the past 27 years, and the earlier requests made specifically to the College of Policing asking for such training to be developed, no accredited training as yet exists.
(2) neither the current CoP APP guidance on firearms nor the proposed update (which I am assured is still under consultation) includes any requirement that FELU staff are trained in firearms licencing generally or trained in conducting suitability assessments in particular .
The Home Secretary and The Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire
So that they may be made aware of my concern that despite the repeated recommendations being made over the past 27 years, beginning with the Cullen report in 1996:
(i) successive governments appear to have failed to ensure that any guidance is produced that makes having training in firearms licencing generally (and in conducting suitability assessments in particular) mandatory for all FELU staff ;
(ii) there appears to be no requirement that Chief Officers of Police should only delegate authority to issue and revoke licences to officers and staff who have completed adequate (and preferably nationally accredited) training.
I am concerned that the lack of accredited training combined with the absence of a mandatory requirement for all those making firearms licensing decisions to undertake adequate training for their role increases the risk of incorrect decision making and, consequently, increases the risk of future deaths.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Hertfordshire Constabulary; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of nationally accredited training for firearms licensing staff
Wider context from the report “I am concerned that there is an urgent need to develop a national accredited training for FELU staff that covers how to apply the relevant Home Office Guidance on firearms licencing including, in particular, training in assessing the suitability of applicants to be granted a licence. The development of such accredited training is vitally important to achieve consistency and drive up standards.
I am concerned that there is currently no requirement or guidance that FELU staff should undergo mandatory training. I am also concerned that there is currently no requirement that Chief Officers of Police may only delegate decision making authority regarding issuing firearms licences to a person who has undergone adequate training.
Whilst I acknowledged that the current NPCC lead for firearms licencing is now working with the College of Policing and others to develop the required training, I am concerned to ensure that the momentum to effect change after the horrific tragedy in Keyham should not be lost, as it has been in respect of lessons and recommendations over the past 27 years.
I am therefore reporting the matters above to:
The NPCC lead for firearms licencing and all other Chief Constables in England and Wales
So that each Chief Constable is made aware of my concern that, that despite the many recommendations made over the past 27 years, there continues to be a lack of nationally accredited training for their FELU staff .
I also report my concern that in the absence of such the training there is a risk that the Statutory Guidance is not being appropriately applied by FELU staff today, and so each Chief Constable may need to take steps to satisfy themselves that (i) adequate local training, of a satisfactory standard has been universally delivered to all their FELU staff and supervisors in applying the Home Office Guidance on Firearms Licencing Law (published in November 2022) and the revised Statutory Guidance for Chief officers of Police (published in February 2023) and (ii) they have only delegated decision making to persons who have undergone adequate training in firearms licencing and in applying that recent Guidance.
The College of Policing (CoP)
So that the College of Policing is made aware of my concern that
(1) despite the repeated recommendations being made over the past 27 years, and the earlier requests made specifically to the College of Policing asking for such training to be developed, no accredited training as yet exists .
(2) neither the current CoP APP guidance on firearms nor the proposed update (which I am assured is still under consultation) includes any requirement that FELU staff are trained in firearms licencing generally or trained in conducting suitability assessments in particular.
The Home Secretary and The Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire
So that they may be made aware of my concern that despite the repeated recommendations being made over the past 27 years, beginning with the Cullen report in 1996:
(i) successive governments appear to have failed to ensure that any guidance is produced that makes having training in firearms licencing generally (and in conducting suitability assessments in particular) mandatory for all FELU staff;
(ii) there appears to be no requirement that Chief Officers of Police should only delegate authority to issue and revoke licences to officers and staff who have completed adequate (and preferably nationally accredited) training.
I am concerned that the lack of accredited training combined with the absence of a mandatory requirement for all those making firearms licensing decisions to undertake adequate training for their role increases the risk of incorrect decision making and, consequently, increases the risk of future deaths.
” Open source report
29 Jun 2021 Katie Louisa Locke · Prevention of Future Deaths report Hertfordshire
View report summary
Concerns raised 1 Insufficient dissemination and understanding of the PDP process across agencies View source
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements No action or position from this recipient is clearly linked to the concerns in this report.
×
AI-generated summary
Katie Louisa Locke · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Katie Louisa Locke was unlawfully killed at Theobalds Park Hotel on 24 December 2015 by forceful and prolonged compression of her neck, accompanied by serious sexual violence. The report identifies concerns about gaps in information held by public bodies, insufficient information-sharing, and inadequate dissemination and understanding of the potentially dangerous persons process, creating a continuing risk that it may not be properly used to protect the public.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Hertfordshire Constabulary; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Insufficient dissemination and understanding of the PDP process across agencies
Wider context from the report “Evidence in the Inquest revealed that, whilst the two police forces who dealt with the murderer both had a PDP process in place, however, the existence of the process and its operation was not known and understood by everyone working at all levels in the police . Furthermore, whilst all other relevant public agencies should have had an awareness of the PDP process and how to make contact via the Police, it seems that knowledge of the PDP process amongst those staff of the Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Hertfordshire Probation Service who gave evidence at the inquest was sporadic .
It is not possible for me to know whether this is a fair reflection of the broader understanding and engagement in the PDP process by the respective organisations. Nevertheless, it gives rise to the concern that information about the PDP process is not sufficiently well disseminated throughout all of the agencies who need to work together within the PDP process to make it work and that further training and/or exchange of information may be helpful.
I consider that unless some action is taken there is a continuing risk that the PDP process will not be properly used to achieve its purpose and provide protection to the public from potentially dangerous people .
” Open source report
24 Mar 2020 Kelly Marie SUTTON · Prevention of Future Deaths report Hertfordshire
View report summary
Concerns raised 1 Lack of a national resource for non-crime information relevant to safeguarding potential victims of domestic abuse View source
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
×
AI-generated summary
Kelly Marie SUTTON · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Kelly Sutton was found hanging at her home on 23 August 2017 and died in hospital on 26 August 2017. The inquest concluded that her suicide was contributed to by domestic abuse. A principal concern was that non-crime information relevant to safeguarding potential domestic abuse victims was not available as a national police resource.
Read the report on judiciary.uk
× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to Hertfordshire Constabulary; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of a national resource for non-crime information relevant to safeguarding potential victims of domestic abuse
Wider context from the report “(1) That non-crime Information valuable to the police in safeguarding potential victims of domestic abuse is not available as a national resource . It is still limited to individual police areas or groups of areas .
” Open source report
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Work towards improving opportunities for sharing police-held data across force boundaries.
Verbatim wording from the response “In May 2018, Hertfordshire joined with eight other forces to share a common integrated crime and intelligence platform called Athena which replaced a myriad of independent legacy systems. Athena allows each force to access the other’s intelligence, custody, crime and non-crime records, vastly improving our ability to safeguard the vulnerable and detect crime. Similar to PNC every officer has immediate access to Athena. The move to Athena was a significant and positive step and addresses some of your concern. However, it is accepted that although significant progress has been made there is still scope for more non-crime information to be available across force boundaries.” Source location 2020-0076-Response-from-Hertfordshire-Constabulary_Redacted
Open published response
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Use the Athena integrated platform to share intelligence, custody, crime and non-crime records across participating forces.
Verbatim wording from the response “In May 2018, Hertfordshire joined with eight other forces to share a common integrated crime and intelligence platform called Athena which replaced a myriad of independent legacy systems. Athena allows each force to access the other’s intelligence, custody, crime and non-crime records, vastly improving our ability to safeguard the vulnerable and detect crime. Similar to PNC every officer has immediate access to Athena. The move to Athena was a significant and positive step and addresses some of your concern. However, it is accepted that although significant progress has been made there is still scope for more non-crime information to be available across force boundaries.” Source location 2020-0076-Response-from-Hertfordshire-Constabulary_Redacted
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Use the circumstances of Kellie Sutton’s death and the report observations to inform the LEDS consultation response.
Verbatim wording from the response “The Codes of Practice for LEDS was published on 10th June 2020 for a 3 month consultation process and can be found here: https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/Standards/Codes_of_practice/Pages/Law-Enforcement-Data-Service.aspx. Hertfordshire Constabulary is fully committed to working towards the best opportunities for sharing data held by the police, and as part of our response to the consultation we will use the circumstances of Kellie Sutton’s death and your observations to help influence the way NLEDS progresses.” Source location 2020-0076-Response-from-Hertfordshire-Constabulary_Redacted
Open published response
×
Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation National development of joined-up police data systems is undertaken by the Home Office through NLEDP; the constabulary’s stated role is consultation input.
Verbatim wording from the response “On a national level the Home Office through the National Law Enforcement Data Programme (NLEDP) has created the Law Enforcement Data Service (LEDS). LEDS will provide police and other law enforcement agencies with current and joined-up information - on demand and at the point of need - to help prevent crime and better safeguard the public. This work will, in due course, result in the decommissioning of the PNC and PND. The LEDS platform will multiple existing data sets currently in the PNC and the PND for law enforcement to be accessed via a single interface. I am sure you will appreciate that the development of such a system is extremely complex and will take time to develop and implement but the potential is worth the investment.” Source location 2020-0076-Response-from-Hertfordshire-Constabulary_Redacted
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Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations