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IPPC say South Wales Police let down woman in hammer attack IPPC say South Wales Police let down woman in hammer attack
(35 minutes later)
A woman attacked by her partner with a claw hammer was consistently "let down" by South Wales Police, despite her reporting him to them, the Independent Police Complaints Commission has said. A woman attacked by her partner with a claw hammer was put at "serious risk" by South Wales Police, despite her reporting him to them, the Independent Police Complaints Commission has said.
The force did not realise Christopher Veal was a registered sex offender because they mis-spelt his name. The force did not realise Christopher Veal was a convicted rapist because they mis-spelt his name.
Moments after police left Charmaine Lewis's home, Veal broke in and attacked her in front of her children.Moments after police left Charmaine Lewis's home, Veal broke in and attacked her in front of her children.
The IPCC said one officer had a case to answer for misconduct.The IPCC said one officer had a case to answer for misconduct.
A further four staff were said to need managing over poor performance. Another officer and three control room staff should be subject to management over poor performance, the investigation found.
IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams said the force had "put this woman and her children at serious risk" and "did not give this case any urgency or priority".IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams said the force had "put this woman and her children at serious risk" and "did not give this case any urgency or priority".
She said South Wales Police need to make "major cultural change".
The police watchdog's investigation found Ms Lewis was "let down by a consistent thread of low level performance by South Wales officers and other staff".The police watchdog's investigation found Ms Lewis was "let down by a consistent thread of low level performance by South Wales officers and other staff".
Violent attackViolent attack
Ms Lewis had reported Veal to police over an assault allegation in August 2011 but police could not find him and failed to identify him as a sex offender. Ms Lewis had reported Veal to police over an assault allegation in August 2011 but police could not find him and failed to identify him as a registered sex offender.
She contacted police three days later and went to Fairwater police station saying she felt threatened by Veal but officers drove her home, where minutes later he broke in and violently attacked her with a claw hammer. She contacted police three days later and went to Fairwater police station saying she felt threatened by Veal but officers drove her home and told her she would be safe. Minutes later Veal broke in and violently attacked her with a claw hammer.
She suffered serious injuries, including broken ribs and lost teeth, and was sent to hospital following the attack. Ms Lewis suffered serious injuries, including broken ribs and lost teeth, and spent time in hospital following the attack.
IPCC commissioner Jan Williams said: "'We found that, following the initial assault, the police did not give this case any urgency or priority. She said: "He hit me in the head… stamped on my body and broke my ribs. I was covered in blood - I woke up in hospital.
"He was a very high risk. I trusted the police… they should have kept us in the police station or waited until they had arrested him."
The investigation found the force failed to access and process relevant information appropriately and failed to make Ms Lewis aware of the risks Veal presented to her.
IPCC commissioner Jan Williams said: 'We found that, following the initial assault, the police did not give this case any urgency or priority.
"No one took overall supervision and this failure to join the dots effectively put this woman and her children at serious risk."No one took overall supervision and this failure to join the dots effectively put this woman and her children at serious risk.
"South Wales Police had the systems and intelligence in place to flag up the danger that this offender presented, but, at various stages, officers failed to access that information and to assess the risk properly.""South Wales Police had the systems and intelligence in place to flag up the danger that this offender presented, but, at various stages, officers failed to access that information and to assess the risk properly."
She said the force had since made the policing of domestic violence a high priority.
The report found South Wales Police should have referred the matter to the IPCC at the time it happened.The report found South Wales Police should have referred the matter to the IPCC at the time it happened.
They were only made aware when Ms Lewis' MP, Susan Elan Jones, complained on her behalf after she moved to live in north Wales.They were only made aware when Ms Lewis' MP, Susan Elan Jones, complained on her behalf after she moved to live in north Wales.
South Wales Police's deputy chief constable, Matt Jukes, said in a previous statement: "It is clear that we did not provide the victim in this case and her children with the care and protection that she needed at a critical time and we are sincerely sorry for that."South Wales Police's deputy chief constable, Matt Jukes, said in a previous statement: "It is clear that we did not provide the victim in this case and her children with the care and protection that she needed at a critical time and we are sincerely sorry for that."
South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said: "The events should not have happened as they did. The deputy chief constable made that absolutely clear.South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said: "The events should not have happened as they did. The deputy chief constable made that absolutely clear.
"The thing is there have been failures in the past which is why the chief constable made tackling violence against women and girls such a high priority in the police and crime plan.""The thing is there have been failures in the past which is why the chief constable made tackling violence against women and girls such a high priority in the police and crime plan."