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Gwent Police criticised over handling of domestic abuse Gwent Police criticised over handling of domestic abuse
(about 1 hour later)
Gwent Police has been criticised for "risks" in the way it handles domestic abuse cases.Gwent Police has been criticised for "risks" in the way it handles domestic abuse cases.
It also needs to improve crime reduction and prevention, and improve investigations, an official inspection England and Wales' 43 forces found.It also needs to improve crime reduction and prevention, and improve investigations, an official inspection England and Wales' 43 forces found.
But Gwent's police and crime commissioner Ian Johnston said the report "lacked balance".But Gwent's police and crime commissioner Ian Johnston said the report "lacked balance".
Inspectors said some improvements were needed in Dyfed-Powys and North Wales. South Wales Police had a good report.Inspectors said some improvements were needed in Dyfed-Powys and North Wales. South Wales Police had a good report.
The HMIC looked at how each force:The HMIC looked at how each force:
The inspection into Gwent highlighted "significant concerns" over how the force responded to some victims of domestic abuse.The inspection into Gwent highlighted "significant concerns" over how the force responded to some victims of domestic abuse.
It also raised concerns over its effectiveness in cutting crime and anti-social behaviour, saying levels were rising after a number of years where they had fallen.It also raised concerns over its effectiveness in cutting crime and anti-social behaviour, saying levels were rising after a number of years where they had fallen.
Victim satisfaction was also one of the lowest of all forces in England and Wales.Victim satisfaction was also one of the lowest of all forces in England and Wales.
And the crime inspection report identified a lack of clarity among officers about who was responsible for investigating high-risk domestic abuse cases.And the crime inspection report identified a lack of clarity among officers about who was responsible for investigating high-risk domestic abuse cases.
However the report did praise Gwent's progress over the past two years on instilling ethical and professional behaviour but said more training on integrity issues and challenging poor behaviour was required.However the report did praise Gwent's progress over the past two years on instilling ethical and professional behaviour but said more training on integrity issues and challenging poor behaviour was required.
The force will now receive another inspection in 2015 with external experts to "assist the senior leadership of Gwent to improve the service it delivers".The force will now receive another inspection in 2015 with external experts to "assist the senior leadership of Gwent to improve the service it delivers".
But Gwent's PCC Ian Johnston, who said the force had spent around £150,000 preparing and responding to the inspections, said HMIC was "trying to justify" its existence.But Gwent's PCC Ian Johnston, who said the force had spent around £150,000 preparing and responding to the inspections, said HMIC was "trying to justify" its existence.
"Some of the criticisms in the report the force accepts and I accept, particularly around victim satisfaction," he said."Some of the criticisms in the report the force accepts and I accept, particularly around victim satisfaction," he said.
"Our biggest complaint is the lack of balance in the report and that's something that other commissioners are concerned about and it's only happened in the last 12 to 18 months."Our biggest complaint is the lack of balance in the report and that's something that other commissioners are concerned about and it's only happened in the last 12 to 18 months.
"HMIC had £9.4m extra last year which was top sliced out of the police budget and I think they're now trying to justify their existence."HMIC had £9.4m extra last year which was top sliced out of the police budget and I think they're now trying to justify their existence.
"We want to hold the force to account for local issues that affect local people, we don't want some sort of central control and a regulator which doesn't understand the area, making comments which cannot be justified in a report.""We want to hold the force to account for local issues that affect local people, we don't want some sort of central control and a regulator which doesn't understand the area, making comments which cannot be justified in a report."
He went on: "I'm disappointed that the report does not articulate what the force has actually achieved and the effort they have put in.He went on: "I'm disappointed that the report does not articulate what the force has actually achieved and the effort they have put in.
"It focuses too much on national comparisons in relation to crime statistics.""It focuses too much on national comparisons in relation to crime statistics."
HMIC has been asked to respond.HMIC has been asked to respond.
South Wales Police said it was "satisfying" to be judged good at all the benchmarking criteria.
Dyfed-Powys was judged to be effective in general but there were some concerns over its approach to domestic abuse which led to a lack of clarity over who was responsible for managing some processes.
North Wales Police's commissioner Winston Roddick said he was "surprised" at HMIC's concerns about crime recording because the force achieved a 94% compliance rate, making it the fifth best in England and Wales.
"I take extremely seriously my responsibilities in relation to scrutinising the force on how it responds to this inspection but it is of paramount importance that a balanced conclusion is made available on the findings," he added.