Probe into claim police advised victim to retract complaint

A court heard the wife of violent Fayaz Khan had been advised by a police officer to retract a statement against him

A police force has said it is looking into allegations that a victim of domestic abuse was advised to drop a complaint against her husband.

Lancashire Police said its professional standards division was probing the claim which emerged during the sentencing of Burnley man Fayaz Khan.

The judge, who sentenced the 69-year-old to 15 years in prison for a knife attack on his wife, described as "shameful" the suggestion an officer had urged the victim to retract an earlier complaint.

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Clive Grunshaw said victims should have "confidence that officers will take any report seriously".

Khan, from the Briercliffe Road area of the Lancashire town, was described by Judge Heather Lloyd as "medieval" in his attitude towards his wife, whom he married in Pakistan, having never met her, when he was in his 30s and she was 17.

Judge Lloyd said Khan coerced and controlled her and treated her "like a slave".

The court heard that in August last year, three months before the knife incident, a neighbour had heard aggressive shouting from the house and called police.

Retraction statement

Officers attended and Khan's wife - who was said to speak little English and barely left the house - made a complaint.

But, the judge said she later "gave a retraction statement, not saying it was not true but that she did not want to go on".

Khan was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and an extra five years on licence, with Judge Lloyd telling him he had "absolutely no insight" into his behaviour towards his wife or family.

Lancashire PCC Mr Grunshaw, who last month pledged to prioritise tackling violence against women and girls, said "everyone in Lancashire should be able to feel safe in their own homes".

He added: "Those who are a victim of domestic abuse should be able to feel confident in reporting to the police, and have confidence officers that will take any report seriously.

"As Commissioner I am committed to improving victim services, supporting and building trust for victims to come forward and receive the service they need and deserve."

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "This is being reviewed by our Professional Standards Department.

"Therefore, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."