Force urges domestic violence victims to report abuse

The ONS estimated 2.3 million people nationally experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024

Domestic abuse victims have been urged to come forward to police, as officers seek to tackle what they said remained a "hidden crime".

Thames Valley Police's (TVP) Det Supt Jon Capps said the force recognised it could do more to help victims while tackling the "complex and challenging" offences.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said about 25,400 people were arrested for domestic violence or related offences in the year ending March 2024 in the Thames Valley area – but about 6% were charged or summonsed.

But it said 46% of those cases suffered from "evidential difficulties", which could include the alleged victim not supporting further action.

"We will always give our best level of service when victims come forward," Mr Capps said.

"We recognise that coming forward to the police in itself is a very big step and we need to do more in terms of trust and confidence.

"By making the report, we can look into it, we can take action. We will act in a victim-centred way so our actions should be focussed around the needs of the victim and treating that victim in the right way."

(L-R) Aileen O'Connor, the chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation, Jason Hogg, TVP's chief constable, and Ken Cooney, the force's Unison branch secretary, signed the pledge last month

ONS estimated 2.3 million people nationally experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024 but police forces only recorded about 850,000 offences in that time.

TVP has partnered with Hope After Harm, a Thames Valley-based charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime including those hurt by domestic abuse, in a bid to get more people help they need.

Chief Constable Jason Hogg and representatives from the force's Unison branch and Thames Valley Police Federation signed a pledge to tackle domestic abuse last month.

"Domestic abuse in many ways sadly remains a hidden crime, as we know it is under-reported to the police," Mr Hogg said.

"We want to change this and encourage anybody who witnesses this awful crime or is directly impacted by it to get in touch so we can tackle it head-on."