A recent Sky News investigation in the UK reveals a troubling trend in domestic abuse cases: more victims are seeing their investigations closed due to lack of evidence, despite their desire to pursue justice. This trend is raising alarm among experts and advocates, who say it significantly undermines victim safety and justice.
Statistics Reflect a Rising Problem
Exclusive data obtained by Sky News through Freedom of Information requests to police forces in England and Wales shows a significant increase in cases where police investigations into domestic abuse are closed without further action. In 2019, 23% of domestic abuse cases were closed due to evidential difficulties. By 2023, this number had risen to 27%, reflecting a growing trend in cases ending without prosecution.
This classification, known as a Type 15 outcome, occurs when a crime is confirmed, and the victim supports police action, but “evidential issues” prevent the case from progressing. The statistics are striking: among the 29 police forces that provided data, the number of cases closed this way has grown significantly over the past four years.
Domestic abuse is an extremely prevalent crime in the UK and elsewhere. According to a recent report by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing, the police record nearly 3,000 calls relating to violence against women and girls each day.
Evidential Challenges in Domestic Abuse Cases
One of the key issues contributing to these closures is the challenge of meeting the high evidential threshold required for prosecution. Detective Inspector Adam Gascoigne of Derbyshire Constabulary’s high-risk domestic abuse unit explains: “The threshold that needs to be met to get cases to court is extremely high, and there must be a realistic prospect of conviction for the matter to proceed. Unfortunately, in some cases the evidence simply isn’t there to secure that, so the difficult decision has to be made that a matter is closed outcome 15, which means it does not proceed to court.”
This high threshold is particularly problematic in cases involving coercive control, a form of domestic abuse criminalized in 2015. Coercive control involves a pattern of behavior intended to control and dominate the victim, often including psychological and emotional abuse.
Coercive control cases are complex and challenging to prosecute, leading to a higher rate of Type 15 outcomes. In 2023, 34% of stalking and harassment cases, which included coercive control, were closed for evidential reasons, up from 30% in 2019.
Impact on Victims and the Justice System
The rising number of closed cases is having a profound impact on victims. Amy Bowdrey, policy and public affairs officer at domestic abuse support charity Refuge, remarks: “It speaks to what we as an organization hear from survivors all the time. Often at Refuge, we will encourage survivors to keep a paper trail of evidence. To know that in a large proportion of those cases that evidence is there, but the police just aren’t taking it seriously, is really, really concerning for us” [via Sky News]
The problem is compounded by workforce pressures and significant backlogs within the criminal justice system. The police workforce has grown by 36,000 since 2019, nearly restoring numbers to pre-austerity levels. However, the rise in reported crime has outpaced workforce growth, resulting in a 60% increase in the number of crimes recorded per police employee since 2010. Additionally, the courts continue to struggle with large caseload backlogs, which exacerbate delays and impact case outcomes.
Calls for Improved Coordination and Support
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) acknowledges the need for improvement in handling domestic abuse cases. Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, NPCC Lead for Domestic Abuse, states: “Tackling domestic abuse is a priority for policing and we are committed to protecting victims, bringing perpetrators to justice, and preventing these horrific crimes. We have made vast improvements in the way that we respond to domestic abuse… But, we know that there is more to do to support victims and bring more perpetrators to justice” [via Sky News]
Efforts are underway to address these challenges through initiatives like the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan, which aims to enhance collaboration between police and prosecutors to ensure stronger case files. As the situation evolves, it remains crucial to address these evidential and procedural challenges, ensuring that victims of domestic abuse receive the justice and protection they deserve.
Featured image: Domestic abuse victim. Source: Krakenimages.com / Adobe Stock.
