Domestic abuse: improving risk assessment and response by the police

Domestic abuse remains a pervasive challenge worldwide. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, domestic abuse affects one in five people aged 16 and above in the UK. In 2021, the then Conservative government took significant steps to tackle the issue through the Domestic Abuse Act, which established clear definitions and stronger protections for victims. But more work needs to be done, particularly on risk assessment by the police. The Labour Party has made tackling violence against women and girls a central priority in its manifesto. Delivering on this ambition requires moving beyond the current approach. CEP research has helped to identify approaches - rooted in better data and analysis - which are more effective. Integrating these tools into call-handling systems, alongside measures to reduce police workloads and support victims, could transform the effectiveness of domestic abuse response.