Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing enforceable duties on chief officers of police to ensure that officers comply with (1) the "Believe, React, Fast" duty to require a prompt and appropriate response to reports of domestic abuse and rape and serious sexual offences, including risk assessment, recording and safeguarding, and (2) the Gaia Principle, campaigned for by the Gemini Project, requiring diligent identification and consideration of all relevant intelligence relating to suspects.

We expect all reports of a sexual offence to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure. Police officers must follow all reasonable lines of enquiry, and this includes seeking out relevant information on suspects in VAWG offences.

The National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection is supporting police forces to implement Operation Soteria, helping ensure sexual offence investigations are always suspect-focused, and rolling out Raneem’s Law to embed independent domestic abuse specialists in police control rooms.

Police officers are already required to act diligently in the exercise of their duties, as part of the statutory standards of professional behaviour, a breach of which can result in disciplinary action. In addition, the Code of Ethics, published by the College of Policing in 2024, includes guidance on ethical and professional behaviour in policing. This makes it clear that the police must “gather, verify and assess all appropriate and available information”, which correlates with the policing commitment to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry.

The recently published Police Reform White Paper outlined this Government’s commitment to drive quality, consistency and efficiency in policing and ensure it is set up to deliver for the public. These reforms will create a more consistent service by holding police forces accountable for delivery, supported by new powers to intervene where forces fall short.