* Sergeant Mike Taggart.
All frontline police officers in North Wales are
being given specialist training to provide better protection for domestic abuse
victims and to save lives.
North Wales Police has launched a pioneering
“cultural change programme” to improve their understanding of abuse and
coercive control.
The force will work with the Safe Lives charity
over the next 18 months to deliver the Domestic Abuse Matters course, with
police staff also being trained.
It will give them a better insight into what is
meant by the term coercive control, challenge victim blaming and prompt them to
recognise high levels of manipulation by the abusers.
The force’s work to tackle domestic abuse is being
championed by Sergeant Mike Taggart who was recently honoured with an MBE for
his work in supporting victims of domestic abuse.
The crusade by Sgt Taggart, who works in the
Protection of Vulnerable People Unit (PVPU), is motivated by his tragic family
history.
He was just 15 when his mother Donna Crist was
murdered by his abusive stepfather Derek Evans in 1997.
Sgt Taggart explained that control and coercion
stops short of serious physical violence but amounts to extreme psychological
and emotional abuse.
Since 2015, the offence carries a maximum of five
years’ imprisonment.
“Officers are aware of coercive control, but now,
we want this knowledge to have more of an impact,” Sgt Taggart said.
“The aim of this training is to educate officers
and give them more tools for their kit really, to be able to take it that step
further.
“The more we can pick up on, the more thorough the
investigation will be and hopefully that will help in making victims safer and
getting better conviction rates in court.”
He added: “There have been times where there have
been missed opportunities and there is work that could have been done to change
an outcome or make it better for someone.
“So, to see us as a police force to put something
into place that’s going to accommodate those things is massive.”
The news about the training programme has been
welcomed by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin, who is a
long-standing campaigner against domestic abuse.
Mr Dunbobbin said: “I have been an official
ambassador for the White Ribbon campaign to end male violence against women
since 2013 so this cause is close to my heart.
“The work being done by North Wales Police in
general and Sgt Taggart in particular to tackle the scourge of domestic abuse
is exemplary.
“The roll out of the Domestic Abuse Matters course
is another example of how the force is leading the way in this vitally
important area of policing.
“I am sure that ultimately this training will save
lives and I can think of no better or more fitting tribute to Sgt Taggart’s
beloved mother.”
Previous initiatives masterminded by Sgt Taggart
have included attending a tattoo convention and training staff in salons to
spot signs of abuse.
He also welcomed the stiffening of prison sentences
for domestic abuse offences in recent years and called for a serial stalker
register to help monitor perpetrators.
According to Sgt Taggart, had his mother had the
information available today, along with encouragement and support, she may well
have been given the “push she might have needed” to seek help as a victim of
domestic abuse sooner.
“I think back in the 90s, domestic abuse was
probably seen as that – as something that happened at home and it was nobody
else’s’ business,” Sgt Taggart added.
“But it isn't just about what happens behind closed
doors now, it’s about how we as police and bystanders deal with it.
“We can all be eyes and ears and help a victim, who
could be so frightened that they’d never come forward, but sometimes you can
have that little guardian angel somewhere that will make that call that will
get the ball rolling in terms of support.
“There was nothing like that available when my mum
was alive.
“Having that information in my time, readily
available, and having that encouragement and support might well have given my
mum that push she might have needed.”
Hopeful the programme will go on to save lives, Sgt
Taggart added: “People will contact police as their first port of call if
they’re in a crisis.
“So, for an officer to turn up at their door and to
identify the issue goes beyond that one incident, and it is in fact a pattern
of behaviour, I think will have a massive impact.
“If we can identify those situations earlier, we
can intervene earlier and implement safeguarding measures that are ultimately
going to keep them safer and give them the confidence and encouragement to
leave that relationship.”
Training is currently being rolled out to all
frontline officers and staff.
