The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, James Vaughan, met with nine women who claimed systemic failures by the Force after they reported domestic abuse perpetrated by their police officer husbands and partners. After hearing the impact of police force failures on each of the women, he issued a heartfelt apology and sanctioned a financial settlement to compensate each of them for their suffering.
The women, Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse (PPDA) victims of nine different serving or former police officers approached Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) after they learned of our police super-complaint on a similar theme in 2020. Their treatment following reporting echoed each other’s and repeated errors and omissions were found across several of the cases, indicating a systemic failure in the way they were dealt with. These flaws included:
- failing to take seriously their allegations
- failing to pursue basic, reasonable, lines of enquiry
- failing to ensure an independent investigation
- prioritising counter-allegations made by the accused officer over the complainant’s allegations of abuse
- failing to view abusive conduct in the round, making the abuse harder to prove and prosecute
The claim, launched in February 2024, argued that the unrelated investigations were so similarly flawed that it amounted to a breach of the women’s human rights. In August 2026, following an apology to the women by the Chief Constable, the claim settled for compensation and with a commitment by the Force to improve.
Some of the officers remain serving in Devon and Cornwall Police, and were even promoted after serious allegations were made.
Following an HMICFRS inspection of Devon and Cornwall Police in August, the Force has been issued with an ‘accelerated cause for concern’ notice because “the force’s leadership arrangements don’t allow it to effectively manage demand, investigate crime and safeguard victims”.
Debaleena Dasgupta, Solicitor at CWJ, who acted in this case said:
“This was a great result for the women, who were particularly pleased at receiving an apology and a commitment to improving the investigation of PPDA. But litigation should never have been necessary. Reporting domestic abuse is already difficult, and even more so when the perpetrator is a police officer and there is no option but to report them to their own employer.
“For the women to encounter indifference, delay, and basic investigative failures was unacceptable. The entire system tackling PPDA needs to be overhauled, not just in Devon and Cornwall. Not to do so is to leave victims, and the public, less safe.”
CWJ renews its calls for all forces to implement its 12 point plan to ensure PPDA can be properly reported, investigated and acted upon.
