Twenty complaints against police for mistreatment of women

Devon & Cornwall cops say they'll tackle violence

An independent report has found 20 complaints against Devon and Cornwall Police for violence against women and girls in historic data relating to the six months from October 2021 to March 2022.

The force says it welcomes the national report and has an" ongoing commitment to tackling violence against women and girls."

The measures it has put in place "focus on the key pillars within the national violence against women and girls framework - building trust and confidence in communities; relentless perpetrator pursuit and safer spaces for women and girls."

It hasn't said specifically how its "relentless perpetrator pursuit" is being conducted in the Devon and Cornwall force, which is under the leadership of a new chief constable.

A lengthy statement mainly concentrates on the impact of violence against women in society generally, and doesn't mention the issue within the force itself until late on, suggesting it is a very small number compared to complaints against police officers and staff nationally.

Deputy Chief Constable Jim Colwell said: “We continue to work closely with our partners to gather intelligence and data and improve criminal justice outcomes for victims. We are also committed to ensuring that our counties are a safe place and have worked on a range of initiatives as part of our commitment to keep woman and girls safe from harm.

“Part of this commitment has been to ensure more safer spaces across Devon and Cornwall particularly at night. These are places where any member of the public can go if they are feeling vulnerable or concerned about predatory behaviour. We are also taking part in a national initiative where members of the public can use an online tool to report locations where they may not feel safe. This information is considered alongside any evidence base and used to inform the community safety activities of police and partner agencies such as local authorities. This might include improved streetlighting, increased vigilance by community Watch groups or additional scrutiny from neighbourhood policing teams.”

DCC Colwell added: “It is vital that we focus on our own internal culture and professional standards and behaviour to ensure that our communities have trust and confidence in us. There is no place for misogynistic or inappropriate behaviour in our force and we are determined to route this out.

“We are investing in specialist staff and reporting channels to ensure we have robust procedures for police misconduct. We encourage all employees to report concerns through confidential channels and ensure that reports are thoroughly investigated. Members of the public can also report inappropriate behaviour via our website or through Crimestoppers.”