The Issue

Across England and Wales, the 43 territorial police forces are failing those who need protection the most. Victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and stalking are being repeatedly let down by a system that is structurally designed to prioritize institutional reputation over survivor safety. When complaints are handled internally, it creates a culture where abusers, especially those within the police workforce, are shielded from consequences, while victims are dismissed, disbelieved, and forced to navigate a process that often re-traumatises them.

Why This Matters

Policing by consent requires that every citizen is protected equally. Currently, victims face a postcode lottery where their safety is at the mercy of internal police cultures. When forces investigate themselves, there is a dangerous incentive to minimize reports and protect their own. This systemic failure leaves victims vulnerable to continued abuse and provides perpetrators with a sense of impunity. This is not just a failure of individual officers; it is a failure of a system that allows abusers to hide behind the badge and leaves victims without a genuine path to justice.

What We Are Calling For

We, the undersigned, call upon the Home Office to mandate a complete overhaul of police accountability by requiring the following for all 43 territorial police forces:

1. Remove the Power to Self-Investigate: We demand that all allegations of misconduct, particularly those involving domestic abuse, sexual violence, or the abuse of power, be investigated by a fully independent, national body. Police forces must no longer have the authority to investigate their own staff or evaluate their own performance in protecting victims.

2.  Zero Tolerance for Abusers in Uniform: Implement a national, mandatory framework that ensures any officer or staff member accused of abuse is subject to immediate, transparent, and independent investigation. We demand an end to the culture of silence that allows abusers to remain in positions of power.

3. National Standards for Victim Protection: End the postcode lottery. We call for a uniform, national standard for how all 43 forces must respond to victims. This includes the mandatory use of protective measures, such as bail conditions and restraining orders, that are currently underutilized, leaving victims at continued risk.

4. Trauma Informed Accountability: The complaints process must be overhauled to be accessible and supportive for all survivors. This includes a legal right for victims to receive clear, timely communication and the guarantee that their experiences will be handled by independent professionals who understand the dynamics of abuse.

The Bottom Line

The current system protects the institution, not the victim. We are calling for a fundamental shift that prioritizes survivor safety and ensures that no force in England and Wales can sweep misconduct under the rug. We demand an independent, fair, and transparent system that holds everyone, regardless of their position, fully accountable.

The 43 Territorial Forces Include: 

Avon and Somerset, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, City of London, Cleveland, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Gloucestershire, Greater Manchester, Gwent, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Hertfordshire, Humberside, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Metropolitan Police Service, Norfolk, North Wales, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Northumbria, Nottinghamshire, South Wales, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, Warwickshire, West Mercia, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Wiltshire.