Evaluation of South Wales Police ‘Operation Diogel’: Final Report

Robinson, Amanda ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5071-850X and Davies, Bethan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4997-8432 2024. Evaluation of South Wales Police ‘Operation Diogel’: Final Report. [Project Report]. Cardiff: Cardiff University.

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Abstract

Recent inspections by HMICFRS have noted the high proportion of domestic abuse (DA) cases resulting in ‘no further action’ across all police forces to be a matter of ‘grave concern’. They also found that not all forces had specialist teams to investigate these cases, even though evidence suggests specialist trained officers generally conduct better investigations. In early 2023, South Wales Police (SWP) commenced ‘Operation Diogel’ in Cardiff & Vale BCU with the aim of improving victim experiences, safeguarding and criminal justice outcomes. The new approach involves a dedicated team of specially trained DA investigators who collect evidence, support the victim, and make referrals to appropriate agencies without the usual delays involved in the ‘business as usual’ approach. SWP commissioned Cardiff University to undertake research to evaluate the Operation Diogel pilot, both in terms of the new processes that were implemented as well as their outcomes. A mixed methods study was conducted, involving the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from different sources: n=405 cases going through the pilot (Feb-Aug 2023), n=10 semi-structured interviews with the Op Diogel team and staff in partner agencies, and n=31 victim responses to the force’s Insights survey. Overall, findings from multiple data sources all point to the positive difference achieved by this new specialist team, especially amongst those victims who, due to their unwillingness to support prosecution and more challenging profiles, were least well placed to benefit from the ‘business as usual’ approach.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Cardiff Centre for Crime, Law and Justice (CCLJ) Crime and Security Research Institute (CSURI) Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Universities' Police Science Institute (UPSI)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Publisher:	Cardiff University
Funders:	Police & Crime Commissioner for South Wales
Last Modified:	22 Mar 2024 14:52
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/167246

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