Domestic abuse policies 1205/2025
FOI Reference: 1205/2025
Request
Please could you provide a copy of all your internal force guidance for officers including policies, procedures, checklists, toolkits on:
- Domestic abuse
- Harassment and stalking
- Victims' Right to Review
I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested:-
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 -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 part of the information you have requested:
Section 21 – Information reasonably accessible by other means:
(1) Information which is reasonably accessible to the applicant otherwise than under section 1 is exempt information.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)—
(a)information may be reasonably accessible to the applicant even though it is accessible only on payment, and
(b) information is to be taken to be reasonably accessible to the applicant if it is information which the public authority or any other person is obliged by or under any enactment to communicate (otherwise than by making the information available for inspection) to members of the public on request, whether free of charge or on payment.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), information which is held by a public authority and does not fall within subsection (2)(b) is not to be regarded as reasonably accessible to the applicant merely because the information is available from the public authority itself on request, unless the information is made available in accordance with the authority’s publication scheme and any payment required is specified in, or determined in accordance with, the scheme.”
The information requested can be accessed via the following hyperlink –
Q1 - Domestic Abuse Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Q2 - Stalking and Harassment Policy | Dyfed-Powys Police
Q3 - Victims' Right to Review Policy | Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
Please note:
Also, best practice for Officers is to use College of Policing guidance where it is available.
Explanation of the applied exemption:
Section 31(1)(a)(b) Law Enforcement:
(1) Information which is not exempt information by virtue of section 30 is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to prejudice -
(a) the prevention or detection of crime
(b) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders
Section 31 is a prejudice based qualified exemption and as such there is a requirement to provide details of the harm as well as the public interest test.
Harm in Disclosure
The Harm Test process requires Dyfed-Powys Police to consider any possible harm that might arise as a result of placing the requested information into the public domain. This process considers the potential harm to:
- Individuals
- The community as a whole
- Dyfed-Powys Police and the wider policing service
- Other bodies
The release of information requested could reveal disruption tactics and safeguarding measures/advice that we offer to victims, as well as revealing capabilities, methodologies and tactics used, giving important information to criminals.
The release of this information combined with detailed information readily available on the internet would allow criminals to identify the strengths and weaknesses of such offences, and they would be able to use information in planning such acts.
This would therefore both directly and indirectly impact on the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of criminals, and increase the fear of crime in the community Dyfed-Powys Police seeks to serve.
Public Interest Test
Factors favouring Disclosure
In times of public expenditure cuts the public have an interest in knowing how public money is being spent in ensuring value for money both at the point of purchase and also in respect of what those resources are to be used for.
Factors favouring Non-Disclosure
Disclosure would mean that individuals could research details about them and their capabilities. To disclose these details would highlight the strengths and any possible weaknesses of Domestic abuse and Harassment & stalking, and would compromise law enforcement tactics which could lead to more crime being committed and individuals being placed at risk. It may also be used by criminals in combination with other information they have gathered to try and prejudice law enforcement.
Balance Test - The Police Service is charged with enforcing the law, preventing and detecting crime and protecting the communities we serve. In order to effectively and robustly carry out those duties, external services are utilised which are vital to investigating criminal activity. Weakening the mechanisms used to investigate any type of criminal activity would have a detrimental impact on law enforcement as a whole. Whilst there is a public interest in the transparency of policing operations and providing assurance that the police service is appropriately and effectively engaging with the threat posed by various groups or individuals, there is a very strong public interest in safeguarding the integrity of police investigations and operations in the highly sensitive areas such as Domestic Abuse, Harassment, crime prevention & public disorder.
As release of information will highlight operational methodology that in turn will provide criminals with counter measures the decision must be made not to release the information sought regarding Domestic Abuse and Harassment & stalking. Therefore, at this moment in time, it is our opinion that the balance test favours against disclosure.
It should be noted that as a result of the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such information that the information released may or may not be accurate.
(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 06/02/2026)
|
Os oes angen y wybodaeth yma arnoch yn Gymraeg, cysylltwch â: If you require this information in Welsh, please contact: |