§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many cases involving domestic violence have been brought to court in each of the past five years; [59855]
850W(2) how many men have been convicted of offences connected with domestic violence in each of the past five years. [59851]
§ Mr. DenhamOffences involving domestic violence are not identifiable on the Home Office Court Proceedings database as no specific statute covers such offences.
Prosecutions brought might range from common assault to homicide depending on the level of violence, and as the circumstances of the offences for which prosecutions are brought are not collected centrally, offences involving domestic violence cannot be distinguished from other offences within these categories.
§ Margaret MoranTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultation he intends to undertake in respect of guidance to police authorities on dealing with perpetrators of domestic violence within their ranks; [60449]
(2) when he intends to publish guidance to police authorities on dealing with perpetrators of domestic violence within their ranks. [60452]
§ Mr. DenhamWork is in progress, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), to produce guidance to police authorities on dealing with perpetrators of domestic violence within police ranks. A target date will be set for issuing the guidance once the new ACPO lead takes up his post and consultation will take place with relevant bodies once the guidance is drafted. In addition to this, work is being undertaken on ensuring that police discipline procedures complement any guidance to be issued. Some police forces already have procedures in place to ensure they respond effectively to any indication that police staff may be perpetrating domestic violence and evidence of good practice may be incorporated into the guidance where appropriate.