Internal policies 754/2025
FOI Reference: 754/2025
Request:
The current versions of your internal policies and/or procedures relating to:
1) Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
2) Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
3) Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
4) Safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children
5) Victim communication, trauma-informed approaches, and victim engagement
Any internal guidance issued to officers regarding:
6) Victim withdrawal of support and No Further Action outcomes
7) The Victim's Right to Review (VRR) process
8) Supporting survivors with complex trauma, neurodivergence, or language barriers
If applicable, your local implementation strategy or action plan relating to:
9) The NPCC VAWG strategic framework
10) Operation Soteria Bluestone
11) Public confidence or trust-building plans with survivors of sexual violence
Clarification sought:
When stating Victim withdrawal of support and No Further Action outcomes – what are you referencing? Are you referring to Domestic Abuse? Or Sexual Violence?
Clarification received:
When stating Victim withdrawal of support and No Further Action outcomes – we are you referencing both Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.
Response 1:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:
VAWG is defined here by Welsh Government as VAWDASV. They are both wide definition and as such the following polices fall under it:
Investigation & Prosecution of Rape & Serious Sexual Offences Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Domestic Abuse Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Child Abuse and Child Protection | Dyfed-Powys Police
Adult Protection Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Protective Monitoring Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Response 2:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:
Child Abuse and Child Protection | Dyfed-Powys Police
Response 3:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:
Criminal Exploitation Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Response 4:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:
Vulnerability Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Response 5:
I can confirm that there is no information held/recorded by Dyfed-Powys Police.
Response 6:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:
Domestic Abuse:
DA withdrawals are covered in the DA policy. Some DA outcomes require ratification by senior ranking officers this is detailed in the DA policy (Section 4 under the heading of Outcome 16 finalisation - Inspector authorisation required.
Domestic Abuse Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Sexual Violence:
Rape and sexual offences victim withdrawal and some NFA outcomes are covered in the below policy.
Investigation & Prosecution of Rape & Serious Sexual Offences Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
In addition to the above outcomes for all crimes are referenced in the below policy.
Crime/Incident Recording/Investigation Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Response 7:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, the details of which are as follows:
Dyfed Powys police follow the NPCC guidelines in relation to the Victim’s right to review.
https://www.npcc.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/publications/disclosure-logs/criminal-justice-coordination-committee/2024/342-2024-npcc---victims-right-to-review-guidance-2022-with-changes-highlighted.pdf
Response 8:
I can confirm that there is no information held/recorded by Dyfed-Powys Police.
Response 9:
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, however the following exemption has been applied to the information requested. Please see the end of the document for an explanation of the applied exemption.
Section 22 – Information Intended For Future Publication:
Response 10:
I can confirm that there is no information held in respect of this part of your request as no policy exists.
Response 11:
I can confirm that there is no information held in respect of this part of your request as no policy exists.
Explanation of the applied exemption – Section 22 Information Intended For Future Publication:
Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 places two duties on public authorities. Unless exemptions apply, the first duty at Section 1(1)(a) is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty at Section 1(1)(b) is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held.
Where exemptions are relied upon Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires Dyfed Powys Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which:
(a) states that fact,
(b) specifies the exemption in question and
(c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, however the following exemption has been applied to the information requested.
Section 22 – Information Intended For Future Publication:
“(1) Information is exempt information if –
(a) the information is held by the public authority with a view to its publication, by the authority or any other person, at some future date (whether determined or not),
(b) the information was already held with a view to such publication at the time the request for information was made, and
(c) it is reasonable in all circumstances that the information should be withheld from disclosure until the date referred to in paragraph.”
Section 22 is a qualified class-based exemption and considerations must be given as to whether there is a public interest in providing the information prior to the anticipated publication.
Public Interest Test
Considerations favouring disclosure:
Dyfed-Powys Police is committed to demonstrating an ethos of openness, transparency, and accountability and to disclose the information would be seen as providing updated information and demonstrating continuing ongoing awareness. Current information would enhance public knowledge of the subject and that may better inform public debate around this subject.
Considerations favouring non-disclosure:
The requested information is proactively published and to disclose the information requested under the Freedom of Information Act would pre-empt this disclosure. Publication processes are in place and disclosure outside of those arranged processes will render such processes obsolete. Such processes are in place to ensure the proactive publication of information, which is in line with the ethos of openness and transparency found within the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Balancing Test
Factors need to be balanced to see if they favour disclosure or non-disclosure of the information. In this case the strongest consideration for disclosure is demonstrating an ethos of openness, transparency and accountability, being weighed against the consideration for non-disclosure which in this case is that the requested information is proactively produced and published. Proactive publication of information assists in meeting the public interest test, disclosure at an earlier date would render such processes obsolete and the Force would continuously have to furnish Freedom of Information requests when there is a process in place which ensures that the Force is open and transparent in regard to such information. Therefore, at this moment in time, the balancing test for disclosure is not made out.
Therefore, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 06/10/2025)
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