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The Police Federation is urging the Government not to make cutbacks in training police recruits to deal with domestic violence, writes Shirley Kumar.

Speaking at the Federation’s conference in Bournemouth on Tuesday, chairman Jan Berry, said: “The Government’s slashing of police training from 15 weeks to 12 undermines any attempts to improve the system.”

Training is also at risk of being lost because it is not compulsory and will be left to regional police departments to implement. The Federation believes the move contradicts the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill where training for police is crucial to reduce domestic violence cases.

Domestic violence accounts for a quarter of all violent crime, according to findings from the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorates report 2004.