Complaints against officers

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An Essex Police officer who failed to investigate reports of threats made against a woman eight days before she was stabbed to death by her husband has been given a written warning for misconduct.

DCC Pippa Mills: The force is rolling out a domestic abuse training programme

Date - 29th March 2021
By - Chloe Livadeas

PC Finley Clark and another officer were called to a domestic incident in Great Saling on August 11 2019.

The victim, Linda Vilika, reported her husband Wilfred Jacob had been recording her in her home, had made threats on WhatsApp and that she felt at risk.

Ms Vilika was found stabbed to death at the same address eight days later.

Her husband was found guilty in January this year at Chelmsford Crown Court of her murder.

A disciplinary hearing held last week found that PC Clark “failed to undertake any adequate investigation” into whether Mr Jacob had threats or made secret recordings of his wife.

She also failed to examine Mr Jacob’s electronic equipment, did not arrest him and provided an inaccurate report on the crime report with regards to the allegations made by Ms Vilika.

PC Clark was found to have breached Standards of Professional Behaviour of Duties and Responsibilities and was issued with a written warning.

Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: “PC Finley Clark’s actions fell below the standards we expect of all of our officers and staff.

“Her actions do not represent how we investigate domestic offences or support vulnerable victims as a force.”

She described the incident as “isolated” and that the force is rolling out a domestic abuse training programme.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We recognise that domestic abuse is an ongoing issue across the UK and as such, continually review our responses.

"As of this year, Essex Police will be providing training – every year, to every front line member of staff – to ensure that they are up-to-date with the latest guidance and support available to victims of domestic abuse.”

Farah Nazeer, chief executive at domestic abuse charity Women's Aid, said: "When police forces do not take seriously women who report about their controlling and abusive partners or ex-partners, the police are unwittingly colluding with the perpetrator.

“Abusers often tell the victim that she will not be believed if she speaks out about the abuse – they silence her and prevent her from getting the help she needs to escape. This lack of effective response from the police destroys any trust the victim may have in the police and hands more power to the perpetrator.

“We are worried that a written warning of misconduct does not go far enough.”

She said what was needed is a “complete overhaul of the current ‘risk-led’ approach” to tackling domestic abuse, as she says it means some women have not been able to get the support they need and opportunities to help women escape domestic abuse earlier have been lost.

Ms Nazeer said the charity's Change That Last approach places the survivor and her needs at the heart of the response to domestic abuse.

"Our approach recognises survivors’ strengths: they are experts in their own lives and know all too well the danger posed by their abuser and what they need in order to escape the abuse." 

She went on to say: "Only by taking every survivor’s concerns seriously and ensuring that she is protected and supported every step of the way, can we prevent further lives from being taken and ensure that every survivor can get the support she needs to live free from fear and abuse."

View On Police Oracle

[Jack McCoy 303]

There isn't nearly enough information in the article to accurately determine the officer's actions. The 'what if' brigade have 20/20 hindsight and officers deal with 2-3 domestics every shift, usually in the form of a verbal arguments in 'tit-for-tat' scenarios that are impossible and disproportionate to police, investigate or provide real safeguarding.

When you label EVERYTHING as a domestic, the real threats and dangers inevitably fall through the cracks because cops simply do not have enough time to deal with every call. STOP abusing the term 'domestic abuse' and forcing front line cops to over-record 'crimes' and all the pointless sea of paperwork and social referrals that follow, and maybe we can have the mental clarity and TIME to identify and deal with the real threats.

 

[Equin0x 161]

8 hours ago, Jack McCoy said:

When you label EVERYTHING as a domestic, the real threats and dangers inevitably fall through the cracks because cops simply do not have enough time to deal with every call. STOP abusing the term 'domestic abuse' and forcing front line cops to over-record 'crimes' and all the pointless sea of paperwork and social referrals that follow, and maybe we can have the mental clarity and TIME to identify and deal with the real threats.

Genuine harassment and abuse absolutely should be tackled of course, but seems to me like there's far too many cases where it's just two people having a childish argument on facebook or twatter. Unless there is ongoing harassment or threats, then in my view it shouldn't be taking up police time and should just be dealt with by telling all parties involved to grow up.