Nigel Mccrery

If Theresa May wants the police to tackle domestic abuse, here’s what she should do

I take exception when Theresa May tells the police they aren’t doing enough to tackle domestic abuse. ‘Victims of abuse are still being let down and reports are not being taken seriously enough,’ she said. ‘The right skills and commitments to protect the vulnerable are still not held by every police officer.’ It’s not the police that are letting victims of domestic violence down, but the government. Give the police the tools and they will get the job done.

I served for nine years with the Nottinghamshire Constabulary between 1978 and 1987, a city known for its domestic violence. I saw first hand more than my fair share and often wish I hadn’t. Although it would be unfair to say it was all directed by men against women, the majority of it is. I have seen woman with broken noses, blackened eyes and teeth smashed out. I’ve seen pregnant women kicked in the stomach by men so brutal it defies understanding.

We always attended, whether the call was from a victim or a neighbour. I tried to establish what had happened quickly and then take appropriate action. Sometime it was obvious what had happened , at other times not. I once saw a man sitting perfectly still with a bowl of Rice Krispies over his head for an hour so he could prove his wife had tipped them over him. I have also seen a woman without a single injury, trembling with fear. She admitted that her partner had never touched her, he didn’t need to because he ruled her by terror, destroying her confidence and making her feel she was worthless. No police officer can see that level of abuse and not feel moved by it and want to do something about it.

I am sure, as the Home Secretary said, there are a handful of officers still caught up in the canteen culture who make stupid remarks or take advantage of a person when they’re at their most vulnerable.

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