Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2024

Kellie Sutton

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2024-0239, written 30 Apr 2024. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report30 Apr 2024
Reference2024-0239
DeceasedKellie Sutton
CoronerSamantha Broadfoot
Coroner areaCambridgeshire and Peterborough
CategorySuicide (from 2015)
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses published1

The report

Text extracted from the PDF text layer. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

Regulation 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS 

NOTE:  This form is to be used after an inquest. 

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT DEATHS 

THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO: Chief Constable for Hertfordshire Constabulary 

1  CORONER 

I am Samantha Broadfoot KC, Assistant Coroner for the Coroner area of Cambridgeshire 
and Peterborough. 

2  CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS 

I make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 
and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. 

3 

INVESTIGATION and INQUEST 

On 02 September 2021 I commenced an investigation into the death of Kellie Marie 
SUTTON. 

Kellie died on 26 August 2017 in Lister Hospital.  She was 30 years old.  The investigation 
concluded at the end of the inquest on 06 July 2023.  The medical cause of death was 1a) 
features consistent with hanging. 

The jury recorded a short form conclusion of unlawful killing and a narrative conclusion as 
follows: 

After being subjected to months of controlling and coercive behaviour and domestic abuse 
by her then partner, on the morning of 23rd August 2017 Kellie Sutton hung herself 

. She was 
treated at the scene by ambulance staff and HEMS before being conveyed to the Lister 
Hospital. Her injuries were not survivable and she died at 2.30pm on 26th August 2017 in 
the hospital. 

The jury found that there were certain failures or inadequacies by Herfordshire 
Constabulary which may have contributed to Kellie Sutton’s death, but not that they did: 
see Annex A - Determination sheet. 

4  CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH 

Kellie Sutton had experienced a series of relationships from a young age with abusive men 
in the past.  She had 3 children. Kellie met her final partner in March 2017 and he moved in 
to her home 
her children in a shared custody arrangement. 

 where she lived with two of 

There was extensive and detailed witness evidence gathered by the police for criminal 
proceedings which demonstrated that Kellie’s partner was abusive towards her: both 
physically violent on at least several occasions and by his controlling and coercive 
behaviour towards her, which included shouting, threatening, phoning constantly if she was 
out, isolating her from her family and friends and holding her bank card.  She lived in fear 
of her phone battery dying because if he couldn’t get hold of her he would “go mad”  and 
would become violent.  In March 2018, i.e. after her death, Kellie’s partner was convicted of 
controlling and coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship, contrary to s76 of the 
Serious Crime Act 2015, the offence taking place between 1 March 2017 and 24 August 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest 
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 

 
 
 2017.  He was also convicted of one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, the 
offence taking place on 3rd June 2017 and one count of common assault which occurred on 
9 July 2017. 

I am satisfied from the evidence, which included text messages from Kellie to friends and 
from Kellie to her partner that Kellie was very unhappy in this relationship but did not feel 
able to extricate herself from it, even though her friends were telling her he was abusive. 

On 9 July 2017 a neighbour called the police on the basis that Kellie was being “beaten up 
by her partner”.  The police came very quickly and spoke to Kellie and her partner 
separately but the couple told them that they had just had a verbal argument.  A risk 
assessment in the form of the DASH book was completed which resulted in 6 ticks and the 
police took the view that this was a ‘standard risk’  case and the matter was closed as a 
non-crime incident.  The police did not speak to the neighbour who called 999 and who was 
in possession of significant further information about the incident, including that one of the 
children had witnessed it.  In a witness statement for the inquest the police accepted, at a 
senior level, that the response fell below the expected standard in a number of respects, 
including body worn video capability, the failure to check up on the children and that they 
showed a lack of professional curiosity and judgment relating to the DASH process and 
house to house inquiries not being completed. 

The controlling and coercive behaviour continued.  Over the night of 22/23 August 2017, 
there were a series of exchanges both verbally and by text message which continued after 
Kellie’s partner left for work at 650 a.m.  This showed a series of increasingly distressed 
messages from Kellie culminating in her threatening to hang herself to which he had 
responded with words to the effect of ‘do everyone a favour’.  Very shortly thereafter she 
stopped answering the phone, he rushed home and found her hanging 

, at about 810 a.m.  Despite him administering CPR to her and the 

ambulance arriving shortly thereafter, tests showed that she had suffered irrecoverable 
brain injury from lack of oxygen and brain stem death was confirmed on 26 August 2017 
when she was pronounced dead. 

The inquest jury found that although they were not satisfied that the lack of further 
investigation or action on 9 July 2017 did contribute to Kellie Sutton’s death, they found 
that it may have led to further interventions that could have altered the final outcome on 
23 August 2017. The jury also found that numerous opportunities were missed at several 
levels to recognise the significance of the responses in the DASH and that this in turn led to 
a failure to consider implementation of appropriate protective measures, which could have 
included issuing a DVPN and/or applying Clare’s law.  However, they concluded that they 
could not be satisfied that these failings did contribute to Kellie Sutton’s death, although 
they may have contributed to her death. 

During the course of the inquest the court heard evidence from an expert in the field of 
violence against women and girls about the harms of controlling and coercive behaviour 
and abuse, the feelings of entrapment by victims meaning it was very common for a victim 
to be unable to extricate themselves and the higher incidence of suicide in victims of abuse: 
one third of all suicides in England and Wales are preceded by domestic abuse. The court 
heard that an understanding of controlling and coercive behaviour was key to any risk 
assessment and that it was important to understand that no physical assault was required. 

The evidence at the inquest indicated a lack of awareness of the link between domestic 
abuse and suicide. Whilst officers did have an awareness of the ‘harm’  from others through 
domestic abuse, a heightened awareness of the risk of ‘harm’  by taking one’s own life was 
relevant to a risk assessment and the consequential steps which may be required. 

The evidence at the inquest also appeared to reveal a lack of understanding by front line 
officers of the circumstances in which a DVPN could be applied for, and whether it was 
necessary for an individual to have been subject to arrest prior to triggering a referral to 
the DAISU. 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest 
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 

 
 I am of the view that this lack of understanding, notwithstanding training which had been 
provided, was evident and created a risk of future deaths. 

The court heard about the lack of systems available at the time to easily identify serial 
perpetrators of abuse.  However, I accept the evidence from the Constabulary about the 
changes that have already been made and further developments that are on-going. 
Accordingly this element does not form one of my elements of concern. 

5  CORONER’S CONCERNS 

During the course of the investigation my inquiries revealed matters giving rise to concern. 
In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.  In the 
circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. 

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows: 

1.  There was a lack of understanding of controlling and coercive behaviour, what it is, 

and the impact on victims. 

2.  There was a lack of awareness of the link between domestic abuse and suicide. 

3.  There was a lack of understanding by front line officers of the circumstances in 

which a DVPN could be applied for, and whether it was necessary for an individual 
to have been subject to arrest prior to triggering a referral to the DAISU. 

6  ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN 

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your 
organisation has the power to take such action. 

7  YOUR RESPONSE 

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date of this report, 
namely by June 24, 2024.  I, the coroner, may extend the period. 

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the 
timetable for action.  Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed. 

8  COPIES and PUBLICATION 

I have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following Interested 
Persons: 

Family of Kellie Sutton. 

I am also under a duty to send a copy of your response to the Chief Coroner and all 
interested persons who in my opinion should receive it. 

I may also send a copy of your response to any person who I believe may find it useful or 
of interest. 

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted or summary form. 
He may send a copy of this report to any person who he believes may find it useful or of 
interest. 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest 
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021 

 You may make representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response about the 
release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner. 

9  Dated: 30th  April 2024 

Samantha BROADFOOT KC 
Assistant Coroner for 
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 

Regulation 28 – After Inquest 
Document Template Updated 30/07/2021

Responses

1 response published against this report on judiciary.uk. A response is a body's written reply to the coroner's concerns; publication is at the discretion of the Chief Coroner's office, so an absent response does not mean nobody replied.

Response from Hertfordshire Constabulary (PDF)
Ms Samantha  
Broadfoot KC 
Assistant Coroner for 
Cambridgeshire and 
Peterborough 

Sent via Email 

Dear Ms Broadfoot, 

Date: Friday 21st June 2024 

We write further to the Regulation 28 dated 30th April 2024, and are now in a position to 
respond  to  your  three  areas  of  concern  which  shows  that  many  changes  have  taken 
place since the very sad death of Kellie Sutton. 

1. There was a lack of understanding of controlling and coercive behaviour, what 
it is, and the impact on victims. 

Detective Superintendent 
 (Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) of the Kellie Sutton 
investigation) completed an officer’s report for the Coroner dated 15th June 2022 which 
summarised  the  training  provided  from  2016  –  2022  covering  Force  Training  Days, 
NCALT, DA Matters and Partnership Training.   

In 2016, Daisu was launched as a new department and this was supported by additional 
inputs  to  all  officers  and  the  Operation  Oak  web  page  provided  a  one  stop  shop  for 
information.   

  report  also  documents  DA  training  delivered  within  Hertfordshire 
Constabulary relative to the inquest of Kellie Sutton. Coercive Control was a relatively 
new offence in 2017, only introduced as legislation on the 29th December 2015.  The 
report  documents  coercive  control  training  packages  that  were  delivered  to  front  line 
officers in 2016. In April 2017, further training was provided to front line responders on 
coercive control, including how to recognise and investigate it.  

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T/Assistant Chief Constable 

A  Domestic  Abuse  training  course  was  also  completed  in  2017  which  focused 
specifically on coercive control, stalking offences and investigations. In addition to the 
above  Detective  Supt  Phillips  notes  that the  Force  Control  Room  received  training  in 
coercive control in the summer of 2019.   

In 2022 further Domestic Abuse training was delivered by a specialist (Domestic Abuse 
Investigation  and  Safeguarding  Unit  (DAISU)  Detective  Sergeant  including  the 
introduction of the new risk assessment tool, ‘DARA’ which replaced DASH, providing a 
more detailed and accurate assessment of risk. Within this training package coercive 
and controlling behaviour is defined and officers are encouraged to establish facts using 
‘TED/5WH’ questions. They are also advised to speak to children who are present to 
obtain further valuable information.  

A  Vulnerability  Information  Portal  was  created  in  response  to  the  investigation  into 
Kellie’s death in August 2023. This is an ‘App’ installed on officers’ work mobile phones 
and laptops, where they can easily access information about subjects including coercive 
control,  Domestic  Abuse  and  suicide,  including  many  other  safeguarding  matters.  It 
gives all officers and staff practical advice on how to provide the best service to a victim 
at the first point of contact and is accessible 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is easy to 
navigate and locate important guidance documents.  

A DAISU Detective Sergeant moved to a dedicated training role in September 2022 and 
was tasked with providing training to increase knowledge to frontline officers on a wide 
variety  of  domestic  abuse  subjects.  This  included  an  update  on  processes,  how  to 
identify  and  investigate  coercive  and  controlling  behaviour,  how  to  seek  civil  orders 
(including DVPN/DVPO’s) as well as other safeguarding measures including reinforcing 
the Clare’s Law process.  

2. There was a lack of awareness of the link between domestic abuse and suicide. 

All SOPs are updated annually. The January 2024 Standard Operating Procedure for 
Sudden Death Incidents details suicide attendance and investigation and the following 
information is provided within: 
‘In cases of Suicide, investigation by Local Crime Units will be required to understand 
what could have caused the individual to take their own life.  This is particularly evident 
in  Domestic  Abuse  and  therefore  investigation  by  suitably  trained  PIP  Level  2 
Investigators  will  be  required  and  supervised  by  a  Detective  Sergeant’.    (PIP  2 
investigators are officers who have been trained in serious and complex investigations).  

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T/Assistant Chief Constable 

‘Intervention Officers are mandated to attend every incident (refer to section 7).   This 
will  be  raised  through  first  line  Supervisory  to  the  Duty  Inspector  or  Detective 
Inspector who is mandated to attend.  It is discretionary and a decision for the 
Duty Inspector for the Detective Inspector to attend, based on the circumstances.  
The Local Crime Detective Sergeant will take ownership of the investigation and 
be  required  to  attend  the  scene.    This  will  ensure  an  appropriate  Investigator  is 
allocated to conduct an appropriate and professional investigation, which will include all 
reasonable lines of enquiry, including ‘Victimology’ - the background and relationships 
of the deceased, utilising corporate systems; particularly any relationship between the 
deceased and potential third party.  This will seek to establish the reasons as to why the 
deceased took their own life and assist in evidencing any potential criminal liability of a 
third party.  This is required in all cases, and particularly prevalent in cases of Domestic 
Abuse  where  there  may  have  been  undetected  or  unreported  criminal  liability,  and 
whether Domestic Abuse was a contributory factor, for example cases of coercive and 
controlling behaviour/harassment.’ 

‘A  thorough  investigation  as  to  why  the  deceased  took  their  own  life  should  be 
conducted, identifying whether there was any third-party involvement that could provide 
for  any  criminal  liability.    All  circumstances  of  the  suicide  should  be  investigated  to 
ascertain any detail that gives rise to concern – including domestic abuse, see Statutory 
Guidance for DHR below.  Attendance is detailed in 6.8 and the suicide will require PIP 
Level 2 investigation.  Victimology and a review of intelligence on corporate systems will 
support the investigation assisting the investigators to understand the reasons as to why 
the deceased committed suicide.’ 

Further  to  the  above,  a  section  regarding  Domestic  Abuse  is  included  in  the  Sudden 
Death SOP: 

‘In certain circumstances a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) will need to be conducted 
alongside the investigation into the death itself to identity any lessons learned. Domestic 
Abuse  homicide  and  suicide  prevention  and  reduction  are  national  policing  priorities.  
The  Home  Office  National  Statutory  Guidance  states  that  the  circumstances  in 
which to consider holding a DHR are: 

‘The death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, 
abuse or neglect by – 
a) 

person to whom he was related or with whom he was or had been in an intimate 
personal relationship, 
a member of the same household as himself, held with a view to identifying the 
lessons to be learnt from the death. 

b) 

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T/Assistant Chief Constable 

Or:  
Where  a  victim  took  their  own  life  (suicide)  and  the  circumstances  give  rise  to 
concern, for example it emerges that there was coercive controlling behaviour in  
the relationship or history of Domestic Abuse’. 

Where these criteria appear to be met it is the responsibility of the Inspector / SIO with 
oversight  of  the  initial  investigation  to  ensure  that  a  DHR  notification  is  submitted  to 
Hertfordshire County Council (HCC)/Head of Safeguarding (Hertfordshire Constabulary) 
so  that  an  assessment  of  suitability  for  a  DHR  process  can  begin.’  These  are  also 
submitted  to  the  Force  Statutory  review  team  who  represent  the  force  as  statutory 
partners at DHR reviews. 

The area Detective Inspector has to review every suicide and sign off the report to be 
sent to the Coroner. This policy has been agreed by the Heads of Departments and the 
Hertfordshire Senior Coroner, Mr Geoffrey Sullivan. Every suicide is also reviewed by 
the statutory review team to who check for DHR criteria and will go back to the SIO / 
reporting  officer  if  it  appears  DHR  criteria  have  been  missed.  DHR  information  and 
reference material has been place don’t the force internet section and is accessible to 
all officers.  

Training  regarding  this  policy  has  been  delivered  to  all  front-line  officers  and 
Neighbourhood  Policing  Teams  (NPT)  within  the  last  6-8  weeks.  Student  officers, 
Detectives  (including  sergeants  and  Inspectors)  are  captured  by  the  Bedfordshire 
Police,  Cambridgeshire  and  Hertfordshire  Constabularies  collaborated  Learning  and 
Development team. Further plans are being drafted to deliver wider training to capture 
the  remaining  relevant  staff.  The  sudden  death  training  also  focuses  on  the  failings 
identified  from  the  Stephen  Port  investigation  and  critically  emphasises  the  need  for 
professional  curiosity  at  unexpected  deaths,  the  risk  of  categorising  a  sudden  death 
without a global understanding of the circumstances and the risks of prejudice and bias.   

As a Constabulary our use of digital technology has significantly advanced since 2017 
and officers have access to personal issue laptops and mobile phones enabling them to 
access far greater information from the scene. Extensive training was delivered in force, 
using Kellie’s tragedy, to further highlight the link between DA and suicide. This was fully 
supported  by  her  mother.  This  training  was  delivered  by  the  OIC  of  the  Kellie  Sutton 
investigation  who  hosted  a  number  of  Continual  Professional  Development  (CPD) 
sessions using the case to highlight the learning, describing how the investigation was 
progressed, encouraging an investigative mindset at any report of suicide with a focus 
on how Coercive Control can be evidenced without an account from the victim.   

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T/Assistant Chief Constable 

These sessions were tailored and delivered across the Hertfordshire Domestic Abuse 
Partnership at a number of events and forums for Professionals from across the county, 
involving Police, Social services, Health, County and District  

Councils  and  charities.    This  input  has  also  been  delivered  to  other  Police  Forces.  
Hertfordshire  Constabulary  have  worked  alongside  a  specialist  organisation  ‘DA 
Matters’, who deliver training to police forces nationally. Kellie’s story is used as a case 
study to educate all officers on how they should respond to Domestic Abuse incidents 
in the future. Kellie’s family have supported the Constabulary using Kellie’s story in this 
way. 

Domestic Abuse has a dedicated section within the Vulnerability Portal which refers to 
the link between DA and suicide.  

All Hertfordshire Officers are expected to be briefed daily for top priorities, information, 
and intelligence on DA.  A section has been added to highlight the link between DA and 
suicides,  this  is  to  encourage  professional  curiosity,  evidence  led  prosecutions  and 
coercive behaviours. This is now a regular item within briefings where we have a rolling 
DA focus which is driven by the key trends / intel at the time.  The Statutory review team 
now  attend  all  Force  and  Safeguarding  weekday  DMM.    The  DMM  structure  has 
changed ensuring a key focus on vulnerability including any sudden deaths that require 
SIO oversight.  

As  part  of  initial  training,  all  officers  receive  a  DA  Matters  First  Response  training 
package. This is supported by the College of Policing and contains an input on being 
able  to  identify  domestic  abuse  in  suspected  suicides.  The  following  advice  and 
guidance is provided: 

• 

‘The College of Policing has made clear that a police investigation into a suspected 
suicide may reveal evidence suggestive of controlling or coercive behaviour or other 
forms of domestic abuse as background to the suicide’. 

•  The report makes the following recommendations for frontline officers: 

o 

‘The first responding officer must use an investigative mindset and professional 
curiosity when attending the scene of a suspected suicide or unexpected death’. 

o  The attending officer must conduct checks on local force, PNC and PND systems 
for  a  recorded  history  of  abuse  including  crimes,  non-crime  incidents, 
intelligence reports and DA flags.  

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T/Assistant Chief Constable 

o  These checks should be carried out either prior to, or at, the scene (not after 
leaving the scene), to ensure that any DA history is identified at the point where 
it can inform initial scene handling and effective assessment of risk. 

 3. There was a lack of understanding by front line officers of the circumstances 
in  which  a  DVPN  could  be  applied  for,  and  whether  it  was  necessary  for  an 
individual to have been subject to arrest prior to triggering a referral to the DAISU. 

Hertfordshire  Constabulary  has  improved  both  processes  and  guidance  in  relation  to 
DVPN’s and other civil orders. There is a specialist team dedicated to processing Civil 
Orders established within DAISU to review all DA reports and look for opportunities to 
proactively  use  DVPO’s.  We  recognised  that  as  a  force  we  were  not  using  these 
sufficiently and a collective push within the safeguarding departments and the LPC has 
led to a vastly improved picture.  

A dedicated DVPN/DVPO officer has been placed in Daisu for intimate DA, and one in 
CIT for non-intimate DA.  These officers will prepare the cases identified and present 
the DVPN to the Magistrates Court to obtain DVPOs. DAISU review all DVPOs across 
the  county,  these  are  listed  on  a  SharePoint  page  and  Chief  Inspectors  are  held 
accountable for ensuring that regular checks are conducted during the 28-day period of 
the DVPO.  This is reported on daily at the Force Daily Management Meeting.      

New guidance and training of DVPN, Clare’s Law and Stalking Protection Orders has 
been  delivered  to  all  Frontline  and  Neighbourhood  Policing  Teams  including 
Supervisors, and there are dedicated sections within the Vulnerability Information Portal. 
This  can  provide  detailed  information  and  advice  on  the  process,  including  a  simple 
visual  flowchart.    Further  to  this,  officers  are  guided  to  information  provided  by  the 
College of Policing, to re-enforce that these can be obtained without the need for arrest: 

‘Officers  have  a  duty  to  take  or  initiate  steps  to  make  a  victim  as  safe  as  possible. 
Officers  should  consider  domestic  violence  protection  notices  (DVPN)  and  domestic 
violence protection orders (DVPO) at an early stage following a domestic abuse incident 
as part of this duty. These notices and orders may be used following a domestic incident 
to provide short-term protection to the victim when arrest has not been made but positive 
action is required, or where an arrest has taken place but the investigation is in progress. 
This  could  be  where  a  decision  is  made  to  caution  the  perpetrator  or  take  no  further 
action (NFA), or when the suspect is bailed without conditions’. 

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T/Assistant Chief Constable 

To highlight the improvement in this area, the following are figures relating to DVPO’s 
obtained by Hertfordshire Constabulary: 

2022- 4 orders 
2023- 29 orders 
2024- 156 orders (as of 4th June) and rising 
This  highlights  that  between  2022  and  2023  there  has  been  a  624%  increase  and 
between 2023 and 2024 a 259% increase.  

Hertfordshire DA Training  

Athena was introduced in Hertfordshire Constabulary on the 23rd May 2018. This system 
allows a coordinated approach to repeat offenders and victims and links crime reports 
and non-crime reports with intelligence.  

The DARA risk assessment tool replaced DASH in 2023. DARA is a risk tool for frontline 
police  practitioners  responding  to  domestic  abuse.  The  DARA  was  designed  as  an 
alternative to the Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour-Based Violence 
Assessment (DASH) risk checklist, for first responders specifically. A review (undertaken 
in partnership between Cardiff University, the College of Policing and University College 
London) provided evidence that the DASH model was implemented inconsistently.  

All new student officers receive Domestic Abuse training which consists of: 

•  Public Protection research 
•  Online ‘NCALT’ training packages; recognising abuse, protective orders.  
•  Scenario activity.  
•  DARA risk assessment.  

All  officers  in  initial  training,  including  those  within  the  accelerated  detective  route 
receive DA Matters First Responder training. At the conclusion of this training the learner 
is expected to be able to define the term ‘domestic abuse’, define their role and explain 
what is meant by the term ‘coercive control’.  

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T/Assistant Chief Constable 

DAISU have designed and regularly update a guidance manual which they provide to 
all officers and staff who newly join the unit. This is a comprehensive guide providing 
information on all areas of domestic abuse including definitions, civil orders, ‘Evidence 
Led’ Prosecution guidance and safeguarding advice. This manual includes the definition 
of coercive control and evidential ‘points to prove’ for the offence to be made out, as well 
as links to the Domestic Abuse Bill and the Hertfordshire Constabulary Vulnerability  
Handbook. 

Input  has  been  provided  to  ‘Police  Now’  detectives,  PCSO’s  and  sergeants/first  line 
supervisors from across the constabulary including the following: 

•  Domestic Abuse Evidence Gathering 
•  DVPO and SPO 
•  DARA  
•  Stalking and Protection Order process 
•  The link between domestic abuse and firearms (including guidance for 

seizure) 

•  DAISU and Dementia  
•  Clare’s Law (Right to know and Right to Ask) 
•  Honour Based Abuse 
•  MARAC and Safeguarding advice 
•  High Risk ‘Manhunts’ 
•  Strangulation or suffocation 

Most of these training inputs provide real-life case studies to highlight previous failings 
and  areas  for  improvement  both  locally  and  nationally.  These  were  used  to  help 
demonstrate  cases  of  coercive  control,  evidence  led  prosecutions  and  incidents  of 
domestic homicide.  

Force training days are mandated every five weeks for frontline officers and DAISU have 
been presenting inputs on Clare’s Law, Protective Orders and SPOs and they deliver an 
overarching DAISU presentation to the Supervisors on the Frontline Leaders Course.   

Hertfordshire  and  Bedfordshire  OPCC  have  funded  a  perpetrator  programme  which 
brings  together  a  range  of  professionals  from  healthcare,  criminal  justice,  and 
behavioural change experts to introduce clinical, behavioural and support interventions 
to achieve positive and potentially life affirming futures for perpetrators and their families. 

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Further future plans include: 

T/Assistant Chief Constable 

•  Lived  Experience  with  survivors  of  domestic  abuse  to  be  rolled  out  to 

frontline officers under consideration.  

•  All  frontline  to  receive  training  input/refreshers  on  the  subject  of 

protective orders and Clare’s Law.  

•  Two  detective  sergeants  have  recently  been  trained  to  deliver  an 

interactive  ‘Hydra’  DA  exercise  which  will  be  delivered  to  all  Detective 

Constables. 

• 

In August 2024, frontline training days have been booked to deliver an 

input on stalking and coercive & controlling behaviours.  

•  DAISU  will  look  to  deliver  updated  training  to  their  own  staff,  including 

updated guidance within the DAISU Handbook to cover civil orders, Clare 

Law, Evidence Led Prosecutions and Coercive behaviour.  

•  A new DA Influencers initiative has started in which officers from a variety 

of  areas  within  the  force  and  of  all  ranks  are  trained  in  coercive  and 

controlling  behaviour  and  the  expectation  is  that  they  will  share  and 

champion  their  knowledge  and  provide  advice  and  training  across  the 

force. This is in the early stages of delivery and guest speakers with lived 

experience will feature within this process.  

• 

In  September  2024  DAISU  will  attend  the  Force  Control  Room  (FCR) 

training days to deliver DA training specific to Kellie’s case and other case 

studies. This is important as they will be the first point of contact to speak 

to a victim when they initially call Hertfordshire Constabulary for help and 

assistance. 

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yours sincerely, 

T/Assistant Chief Constable 

Local Policing, Safeguarding and Crime Command 
Hertfordshire Constabulary 

Hertfordshire Constabulary Headquarters 
Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XF 

www.herts.police.uk

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