47 extra officers brought in to deal with record rise in domestic abuse in region
West Midlands Police has drafted in almost 50 officers to deal with a record spike in domestic abuse cases.
Forty constables and seven sergeants will join the force's public protection unit to investigate domestic violence, which has surged across the region since the start of lockdown.
A report to the strategic police and crime board said West Midlands Police had seen "a continued rise in domestic abuse reporting which is both sustained and also significantly higher than our most similar forces".
"As it stands, with the current rises, 2020-21 will be the highest recorded year for domestic abuse crimes in WMP history."
The report says that in order to tackle the spike, the Public Protection Unit has "been afforded an increase in resources through the national police officer uplift programme, which will see an additional 40 police constables and seven police sergeants coming into domestic abuse investigation".
In addition, 11 constables and 13 police staff investigating officers will be recruited to the Pupil Development Unit where student officers work alongside specialist domestic abuse investigators learning investigative skills, prisoner handling and case file preparation.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said the force was investing "more in domestic abuse support services than ever".
He said the extra officers showed "how seriously we take domestic abuse", adding: "Nobody should be afraid in their own home."
The Labour PCC faced criticism earlier this year after it emerged a £200,000 fund to support domestic abuse survivors had been redirected towards groups dealing with hate crime victims.
In the West Midlands Police area reports of domestic abuse have gone up by 41 per cent in the past year, with more than 45,000 cases recorded.
Between Christmas Eve and December 29 officers were called to 1,250 incidents, an increase of more than 60 per cent on the same period last year.
Last week it was announced that local authorities across the West Midlands have been handed £13 million to help support domestic abuse victims and their children.
The Government cash will fund a new duty on councils to ensure victims are able to access life-saving support in safe accommodation – a key part of the Government’s Domestic Abuse Bill.
