APCC response to ONS domestic abuse report
APCC Victims Lead, Dame Vera Baird QC said:
“This report provides fuller data and a more comprehensive impression of the scale of domestic abuse and the impact it has on police forces in England and Wales.
“We know that domestic violence is still seen as a hidden crime; it is under-recorded which makes comparisons difficult. However, we have seen a considerable improvement in the overall police response to victims of domestic violence, in part because Police and Crime Commissioners have made protecting and supporting vulnerable people a priority. Whilst there is more we can do, it is encouraging to see more people having the confidence to come forward to the police, and, in doing so, knowing that they will be dealt with appropriately.
“In order to ensure that resources are deployed effectively to tackle it, more needs to be done fully understand the scale and nature of domestic abuse and today’s ONS report is a welcome step forward.”