Domestic violence police team lock up wanted offenders for Christmas - and urge victims to seek help

Domestic violence traditionally rises by 10 per cent at Christmas - and on top of another ten per cent rise caused by coronavirus, police in Northamptonshire's specialist domestic violence team are getting ahead of the curve by locking up the worst offenders.

Teams have been out hunting wanted people and those for whom warrants have been issued to ensure they're behind bars during the festive period when they're most likely to strike.

As part of their month-long operation, the team of 30 specialist Northants Police officers as well as uniformed police officers from across the county are helping to ensure victims are kept safe as well as reassuring those that are suffering that it's safe to come forward.

A 74-year-old Wellingborough man was arrested on Wednesday after a magistrate issued a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear at court and for breaching a non-molestation order.

A man from Kettering was also taken into custody as well as a man from Northampton.

The force's Head of Public Protection Detective Chief Inspector Richard Tompkins said: "Domestic violence takes place 24/7, year round, and we make up to 300 arrests per month. It's not unusual for us to make ten domestic abuse arrests per day. But at Christmas we see a 10 per cent rise in cases.

"So we're rounding up those who have outstanding warrants or those who have been who have missed court dates.

"We also have a number of serial offenders in the county who move on from victim to victim."

Although serious, high risk domestic violence has remained static, the force has seen a big uptick in the amount of situational domestic abuse during lockdown caused by close-proximity living, financial pressures and people not being able to leave. Alcohol consumption also increased over lockdown.

DCI Tompkins said: "It's been more difficult for people to leave those relationships during lockdown because there is limited access to go elsewhere.

"We also know that the domestic violence charities have their busiest month in January because people think that they will just get through Christmas for the children's sake."

The police offer repeat offenders domestic abuse perpetrator programmes but some abusers refuse to do them.

DCI Tompkins said: "If they don't do the programme then we have a duty to protect anyone they subsequently present a risk to. So we'll put their registration number into the ANPR system and stop them and, under Clare's Law, we'll tell whoever their front seat passenger is about their violent history. We'll tell them how many previous domestic abuse convictions they have and exactly what they were for."

In recent years the police have also begun prosecuting more perpetrators without the co-operation of the victims.

DCI Tompkins said: "It's not the individual that presses charges, it's the authorities. And we know that although some people may call the police then withdraw their statement, it's our job to keep them safe.

"People will decline to give statements and will even go back to the person who has abused them but we sometimes get letters some time later from people thanking us because they knew we were acting in their best interests but they weren't able to see it at the time.

"We want to make it as difficult as we can for these offenders and we want to support the victim. We make 15 domestic violence protection orders every month."

The force's work was brought into stark focus earlier this week when Michael Reader was sentenced to 31 years in jail for killing his wife Marion Price, along with his foot soldier Stephen Welch. The pair plotted to shoot Marion for a year before finally carrying out their terrible plan.

But that was the last domestic homicide that happened in Northamptonshire and the force's day to day work focuses on picking up lower level offenders.

DCI Tompkins said: "If a member of your family or a friend is in an abusive relationship and they're not strong enough to tell the police then you can ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on their behalf then at least we have a record if we're ever called to the property.

"Research shows us that most people do want to be spoken to, even if they're worried.

"I don't want people to suffer in silence. There's support out there."

RICHARD'S RED FLAGS - how to spot abuse early in a relationship before it becomes difficult to leave

Controlling behaviour - if someone stops you from doing things you normally would.

Stopping you from seeing friends and family - they might do this through manipulating you or making you feel guilty if you go out.

Financial abuse - stopping you from accessing money or not giving you equal access to money.

Physical abuse - shoving and pushing or physical intimidation is abusive, as well as violence.

Help and advice:

Help on the Northamptonshire Police websiteTo access a perpetrator programme, contact Respect – the national association for domestic violence perpetrator programmes and associated support services.

If you're a victim of domestic abuse, or know someone who is and there's an emergency that's ongoing or life is in danger, call 999 now. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use the police textphone service 18000 or text on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergency SMS service,.

In non-emergency cases and for general advice, call 101. If you're deaf or hard of hearing, use the textphone service on 18001 101.

You can also call the national 24-hour domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247.

The following links offer guidance and advice.

www.voicenorthants.org - Tel: 0300 303 1965

[email protected] - Tel: 01604 888211

www.ndas.co - Tel: 0300 012 0154

https://eveda.org.uk/contact/ EVE - A domestic abuse service providing women and family refuge, supported programmes and training and consultancy. Tel: 01604 230311.