- Conference
- 2014 Police & Justice Conference
- Date
- 24 June 2014
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
The recent Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary report dated 27th March 2014 into Domestic Abuse did not highlight any issues concerning the cost of service delivery around domestic abuse. The Report has failed to take into consideration Government Cuts and the impact this is having on the ability of Forces to adequately fund and staff departments to the required level necessary to achieve the Public’s expectation and Governments promise of carrying through the recommendations for improvement within the Forces.
The latest figures for 2012 – 2013 show that at least 3 people are killed a week as a result of Domestic Abuse and this figure has the potential to rise significantly if money is not put back into Policing. The reality is that services have been severely cut and will continue to be reduced over the next 4 years based on the huge Budget Reductions outlined by Home Secretary Teresa May. Establishing a “new national oversight group” which she will chair is not the answer, recognising that reducing funding to the degree she has indicated will have an adverse effect on any Forces ability to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
We call on Conference to reject this report and we call on the Service Group Executive to
A) Work with all Police Branches to publicise how these cuts are affecting the ability of Forces to protect the victims of Domestic Abuse in all its forms.
B)Work with UNISON Women’s Self Organised Group (SOG) to highlight the impact on vulnerable women