Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police apologises to nine women who reported police perpetrated abuse as their landmark human rights claim is settled
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.
ENDS
Notes:
CWJ’s police super-complaint was published in March 2020.
The response from the super-complaint investigatory body and recommendations made can be found here.
Responses to the statutory bodies including government and policing bodies can be found here.
Appendix:
Quotes from the claimants:
“June”
June reported her police officer husband for assault, harassment and controlling behaviour. No criminal or disciplinary action was taken and he remains a police officer.
“No woman who approaches the police for protection from domestic abuse, especially from one of their serving officers, should then lose all her faith in the police when his malicious counter-claims are prioritised. I sincerely hope that this is a step forward in the right direction for D&C Police and that they are invested in making much needed changes.”
“Sarah”
Sarah repeatedly reported her ex-partner for harassment against her and her family which spanned nearly 15 years. It is understood that many others have reported him for VAWG and other crimes. Her abuser retired from the force when finally facing disciplinary action.
“I feel incredibly proud of what we have achieved. No one should have to fight this hard to be heard or to seek accountability, but I felt I had no choice. People must be held accountable for their actions. If speaking out means that no one else has to suffer in the way I have, then every difficult step has been worth it.
“I would like to see Devon & Cornwall Police give victims of police-perpetrated domestic abuse (PPDA) greater confidence that they will be listened to, supported and taken seriously. Victims should never feel that they have to fight this hard simply to have their experiences acknowledged and properly investigated.”
“Kerensa”
Kerensa reported being a victim of rape and coercive and controlling behaviour spanning a decade by her police officer husband, as well as stalking after she reported him. No criminal or discplinary action was taken and her abuser remains a police officer.
“For me, settling this claim means finally being able to close this chapter and move forward. After years of fighting to be heard, the police acknowledging what happened and giving us a formal apology means a great deal. It cannot undo what happened, but I hope the changes they have committed to will mean that women who report police-perpetrated abuse are listened to, properly supported and protected. This should be the beginning of meaningful change, not simply the end of our case.”
“Sasha”
Sasha reported physical and verbal abuse, including racist abuse, and coercive and controlling behaviour by her police officer partner. No criminal or disciplinary action was taken and he remains a police officer.
“For over a decade I suffered ingrained domestic abuse at the hands of my ex-partner, a serving police officer. There are so many reasons that victims of domestic abuse are reluctant to come forward, but when the perpetrator is a serving police officer who is going to be investigated by his own colleagues the prospect is daunting. In my case the concerns were borne out when the police “lost” my diary containing details of the abuse and promoted my ex-partner to head a domestic violence unit during the course of the investigation.
“This year justice has been done and finally a change in police policy is being effected, which will hopefully protect victims in the future to ensure that this history will not be repeated.”
“Freya”
Freya reported her police officer husband for rape. No criminal or disciplinary action was taken and he remained a police officer until he retired.
“I did not want a fight. I wanted the truth. I wanted the truth to matter. I have spent 30 years fighting for justice. I never thought I would live to see some of it. I cannot adequately express the pain this has caused me. For 30 years, I hoped someone, somewhere, would do the right thing.
“The Chief Constable gave me time to listen and that made all the difference. He seemed visibly moved, and I felt believed. He took the shame and eased my searing pain of injustice. So that after nearly 30 years, I can start to heal.”
“Clare”
Clare reported her assailant, a former Devon & Cornwall officer who claims to maintain links with the Force, for harassment. Only after a separate Force investigated a further report, was he charged.
“This is an important moment because it begins to address the profound power imbalance that exists when a woman, or any victim but particularly a victim of domestic abuse, tries to report an abusive police officer, especially where that officer is someone she has previously had a relationship with.
“An apology from senior officers and compensation can never undo the inappropriate, degrading and dismissive language and treatment I experienced from serving officers throughout this process. But it does help to restore some faith in my own experience and to know that what I went through was real, and that it mattered.
“No one should have to battle the police while already living in fear for their own safety. The very institution they turn to for protection should never become another source of fear or harm.”
“Jessie”
Jessie was a DI with Devon & Cornwall Police. She reported her partner, a senior police officer multiple times for domestic abuse. No criminal or disciplinary action was taken and her assailant was promoted and remains a senior police officer.
“The resolution of this claim cannot “right the wrongs” inflicted on me, or my family, as a direct consequence of Devon and Cornwall's actions and inaction. But I am hopeful, finally, that current, and future victims, will not experience such unacceptably poor service and unjust treatment.
“As a direct result of this claim, Devon and Cornwall Police have stated their willingness to embrace organisational learning, instil positive cultural change and strengthen safeguarding practice. This work is essential if they are to effectively tackle the perpetrators within their ranks, improve investigative standards, and win back the confidence of their victims, workforce, partnerships, and the wider communities they serve.”
Paula Kressinger
Paula, a retired police officer, reported her ex-partner, also a retired police officer, for assault (actual bodily harm), harassment and for making malicious allegations. No criminal action was taken.
“Whilst I was denied justice for the assault against me, I have since received a full apology in person from the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police for the failings in my case. He has also agreed to pay compensation and, most importantly, to work with us as a group so that our experiences can help improve the way Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse is dealt with in the future.
“I hope that by speaking out and using what we have been through to help bring about real change, other women reporting abuse by police officers will be believed, protected and treated with the seriousness they deserve. No woman should have to fight for several years simply to be heard.”