Operation Artemis VAWG Day of Action

Earlier this morning Assistant Chief Constable Richard Baker and Detective Superintendent Helen Barker briefed officers who are out across the county today for a day of action tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Tackling domestic abuse (DA) forms a central part of our ongoing work to deal with Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

In the 12 months to September 2024, Cleveland Police recorded 13,191 DA crimes, involving around 8, 700 different victims.

Cleveland Police prioritises tackling perpetrators of DA and dealing robustly with them through the criminal justice system and the use of civil orders.

Meanwhile we invest in specialist roles so officers can safeguard, protect and support anyone impacted by DA, while investigating all reports sensitively, professionally and thoroughly.

We also work closely with our excellent local partner agencies to safeguard and protect anyone impacted by DA.

You can report DA of any kind to Cleveland Police at any time of night or day – please phone 101 or report online.

More information is available on our website: Advice about domestic abuse | Cleveland Police

As our VAWG Day of Action continues, we’re looking at stalking and harassment, which can take many forms and can take place physically or online.

All our officers have been informed or trained in what specialist knowledge in stalking and harassment, how to identify it and how to investigate it whilst supporting victims.

In the past year we recorded 9, 714 stalking and harassment crimes.

There’s a range of civil orders which police can apply for to protect victims while any criminal investigation takes place.
These include Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs), restraining orders, non-molestation orders and Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders.
Cleveland Police has been successful in getting such orders granted over the past year, as well as rigorously enforcing any breaches.

Find out more here:  What is stalking and harassment? | Cleveland Police

As officers prepared for today’s Day of Action tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) we can confirm our Domestic Abuse Unit arrested two outstanding suspects on suspicion of rape last night.

And today, the following arrests have taken place across our force area:

A 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault,

a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape,

a 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of three domestic abuse common assaults,

a 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of domestic related common assault,

a 41-year-old man was arrested for prison recall and

a  55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of domestic fraud.

Our officers are still out and about visiting known offenders to ensure they’re keeping to any conditions or restrictions placed upon them, as well as actively pursuing other wanted perpetrators of rape, child sexual abuse and exploitation and domestic abuse.

And our neighbourhood teams, joined by our local partner agencies, are  in shopping centres and at education providers and community hubs hosting engagement and information events.

As part of today’s VAWG Day of Action, we’re reminding anyone with concerns about their partner’s history that under Clare’s Law (Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme) they have the right to ask us about any previous history of violence or abuse their current or ex-partner may have.

Clare’s Law forms a vital and proactive role in safeguarding victims and in fact figures from 2022-23 show Cleveland had the highest number of Right to Know applications per 1,000 population.

And in the past 12 months, we have made 845 disclosures under Clare’s Law.

You can find out more about Clare’s Law here: Request information under Clare's Law: Make a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) application | Cleveland Police