Third anniversary of Sussex Police's groundbreaking domestic abuse investigation team

Sussex Police’s pioneering team of domestic abuse investigators, the first of its kind in the country, has celebrated three years of helping victims across the county.

The Local Resolution Team (LRT) was launched on 12 March, 2020, to offer virtual, discreet support to victims of domestic abuse initially in response to lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.

Specialist officers and staff respond to non-emergency reports of domestic abuse, offering advice, support and safeguarding to victims through video calls or, if appropriate, at police stations or a victim’s home.

Video calls are carried out through discreet links, which are then deleted. Victims are also given advice on how to avoid all trace of the link.

The domestic abuse investigators’ primary focus is to investigate the report and put initial safeguarding steps in place, alongside partner agencies, to help reduce the risk of the situation escalating.

They also carry out welfare checks on victims, support face-to-face interviews in other domestic abuse investigations and offer stalking specialists to assist officers involved in stalking investigations.

Since its launch in 2020, the team has dealt with more than 15,000 investigations and feedback from victim satisfaction surveys – offered to every person that uses the service – has shown a victim satisfaction rate of over 90%.

As well as providing life-changing advice and support, having a team dedicated solely to these domestic abuse cases frees up other officers to focus on other incidents across the county.

The LRT’s success has seen similar models introduced by forces across the country.

Detective Inspector Kelly Lewis, of the Local Resolution Team, said: “I am extremely proud of the outstanding service the initial domestic abuse investigators of the LRT provide to victims of domestic abuse in Sussex.

“Their passion, knowledge and dedication has made the team experts at ensuring victims are left feeling safe and listened to.

“As a team dedicated solely to domestic abuse investigations, we are able to ensure that appointments are made and kept, and that we can dedicate the time to understand the often complex issues involved with domestic abuse.

“By pioneering a virtual response, we can also respond faster to victims, which helps keep victims and their families safe and quickly gather evidence in a non-intrusive way.”

Detective Superintendent Miles Ockwell said: “Combating violence against women and girls is a top priority for Sussex Police, and central to that is protecting victims, and people at risk, of domestic abuse.

“Alongside the groundbreaking Local Resolution Team, we have introduced an award-winning, multi-agency Complex Domestic Abuse and Stalking Unit, which focuses on the perpetrators causing the highest harm.

“We have also utilised a range of prevention orders aimed at reducing offenders’ ability to cause harm, and work with partners to operate domestic abuse perpetrator programmes that tackle the root causes of this hugely damaging behaviour.

“Sussex Police is also supporting the national review into policing violence against women and girls, with a range of internal measures aimed at improving the culture within the force, clamping down on domestic abuse perpetrated by police officers and staff and ensuring these individuals are dealt with appropriately.”