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<p /> <p>In 2012-13, the most recent year for which we have this information, there
were 838,026 incidents of domestic abuse, which covers both physical and <br>non-physical
abuse, recorded by the police. Data for incidents in which the police took no further
action are not collected by the Home Office. <br><br>The latest data from the Crown
Prosecution Service show that the volume of domestic violence referrals from the police
rose to 103,569 in 2013-14 from 2012-13 which is the highest level since CPS recording
began. 72,905 (70.4% of these referrals) were charged, the highest volumes and proportions
since CPS recording began in 2007-8. The volume of prosecutions completed in 2013-14
rose to 78,071 - a rise of 7,369 prosecutions(10.4%) from 2012-13. The volume of convictions
reached 58,276 - a rise of 5,727 convictions (10.9%) since 2012-13. <br><br>In September
2013, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to
undertake a comprehensive review on how the police deal with domestic violence and
abuse because she was concerned that the response is inadequate.<br><br>Their report,
published in March 2013, exposed significant failings, including unacceptable variations
in charging perpetrators of domestic abuse with <br>criminal offences. In response
to that report, the Home Secretary established a National Oversight Group, which she
is chairing, to drive delivery against HMIC’s recommendations. The Home Secretary
also wrote to chief constables making it clear that every police force must have a
domestic abuse action plan in place by September 2014.</p><p />
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