§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to police officers on dealing with domestic violence; and if he will make a statement. [115915]
§ Charles ClarkeNational Police Training (NPT) deliver training on domestic disputes and domestic violence during the Probationer Training Programme undergone by all recruits to the police service. This training is designed to make students aware of the legal framework within which they will operate, the role of the police service and other agencies, and the powers open to them.
The National Operations Faculty, part of NPT, offers a three-day course at Bramshill called "Quality of Service to Women Victims of Domestic Violence". The course is open to senior police officers of the rank of Inspector and above and covers a range of issues including:
- the criminal victimisation of women;
- applying quality of service to the care of women victims;
- strategies to develop an appropriate response to domestic violence;
- current patterns of victimisation;
- role and status of women as victims;
- current legal remedies; and
- domestic violence and crime audits.
NPT has just completed a Training Needs Analysis to establish whether additional training is needed in this area of policing. The results are expected shortly and will be taken forward by the National Operations Faculty and NPT as quickly as possible.