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Domestic violence victims' family call for public inquiry into police response Domestic violence victims’ family call for public inquiry into police response
(35 minutes later)
The family of a woman and child murdered by her violent ex-partner are calling for a public inquiry into the police and state response to domestic violence in the wake of a highly critical review of how the police watchdog handled its investigation into their deaths five years ago. The family of a woman and child murdered by her violent ex-partner are calling for a public inquiry into the police and state response to domestic violence in the wake of a highly critical review of how the police watchdog handled its investigation into their deaths.
Rachael Slack, who was pregnant at the time, and 23-month-old Auden were stabbed to death in their home by Andrew Cairns, Rachael’s ex-partner and father of Auden, on 2 June 2010 – despite Rachael repeatedly telling police she feared for her life.Rachael Slack, who was pregnant at the time, and 23-month-old Auden were stabbed to death in their home by Andrew Cairns, Rachael’s ex-partner and father of Auden, on 2 June 2010 – despite Rachael repeatedly telling police she feared for her life.
An initial Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into police involvement in their deaths, which said Derbyshire police had behaved correctly, was underfunded, rushed and had missed evidence, according to the review. An initial Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into police contact with the pair before their deaths, which said Derbyshire police had behaved correctly, was underfunded, rushed and had missed evidence, according to the review.
Melony Slack, Rachael’s sister, said after fighting for five years for all the evidence about Rachael’s murder to be revealed, the family could finally start to find some closure. Melony Slack, Rachael’s sister, said that after fighting for five years for all the evidence about Rachael’s murder to be revealed, the family could finally start to find some closure.
“We have been really shocked that this report shows the original investigation missed so much information and detail, which could have been invaluable,” she said. “Like anybody, you put your trust in the state’s agencies to help you, and while we don’t want to point a finger at any individual, we have found out all sorts of things that could have been done differently. You can’t help but think, ‘if, if, if’.” “We have been really shocked that this report shows the original investigation missed so much information and detail, which could have been invaluable,” she said. “Like anybody, you put your trust in the state’s agencies to help you, and while we don’t want to point a finger at any individual, we have found out about all sorts of things that could have been done differently. You can’t help but think: ‘If, if, if’.”
A review of the initial IPCC investigation was ordered after the family fought for an inquest into Rachael and Auden’s deaths, which revealed police failings “more than minimally” contributed to their deaths. Rachael had been assessed as at high risk of murder, but she had not been informed of the danger she was in or consulted on steps which could have made her safer.A review of the initial IPCC investigation was ordered after the family fought for an inquest into Rachael and Auden’s deaths, which revealed police failings “more than minimally” contributed to their deaths. Rachael had been assessed as at high risk of murder, but she had not been informed of the danger she was in or consulted on steps which could have made her safer.
“The inquest gave us some answers, but we appreciate the fuller IPCC report into the initial investigation,” she said. “They have treated us with dignity and compassion and apologised for the initial report and the time we have had to wait – but what has happened will never go away.”“The inquest gave us some answers, but we appreciate the fuller IPCC report into the initial investigation,” she said. “They have treated us with dignity and compassion and apologised for the initial report and the time we have had to wait – but what has happened will never go away.”
A fresh report has revealed the inadequacy of the initial IPCC investigation into Rachael Slack’s murder, after five years and repeated calls for more light to be shone on the police investigation into the police’s involvement in the case. A new report has revealed the inadequacy of the initial IPCC report and repeated calls for more light to be shone on the investigation into the police’s involvement in the case.
The initial report, released in September 2010, found no indications any officers had breached the standards of professional behaviour, no indications of poor performance, and that Derbyshire Constabulary officers acted correctly in their police contact with Rachael and Auden Slack, and Andrew Cairns. The initial report, released in September 2010, found no indications of poor performane or that any officers had breached the standards of professional behaviour, and said that Derbyshire police had acted correctly in their contact with Rachael and Auden Slack and with Andrew Cairns.
But the new report found the original IPCC investigation was “totally under-resourced” and had ruled there were no indications of misconduct after just four days of the investigation, despite not gathering all the available evidence. But the new report found the original IPCC investigation was “totally underresourced” and had ruled there were no indications of misconduct after just four days of the investigation, despite not gathering all the available evidence.
The review stated that future reports should be properly resourced, adding that “all available material relevant to the investigation should be gathered” and independence must be ensured.The review stated that future reports should be properly resourced, adding that “all available material relevant to the investigation should be gathered” and independence must be ensured.
Slack said the family were now urging people to support a call for a public inquiry into the state’s handling of domestic violence, lead by the domestic violence charity Refuge. Slack said the family were now urging people to support a call for a public inquiry into the state’s handling of domestic violence, led by the domestic violence charity Refuge.
“Our family’s great comfort is we may be able to help others,” she said. “But the phrase ‘lessons have been learnt’ is no consolation unless you see the effects of those lessons. The numbers of women being killed have not gone down and Jean, Rachael’s mother, says she wants no one else to go through what she has been through.” “Our family’s great comfort is we may be able to help others,” she said. “But the phrase ‘lessons have been learnt’ is no consolation unless you see the effects of those lessons. The numbers of women being killed have not gone down and Jean, Rachael’s mother, says she wants no one else to have to go through what she has been through.”
Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge, said the review of the initial IPCC had revealed shocking failings. “The original investigation was reliant on evidence collected from Derbyshire police – that is not independent and it is inexcusable it was not properly resourced, handled and executed. It clearly added to the distress of the Slack family who have been through so much in the last five years.” Sandra Horley, the chief executive of Refuge, said the review of the initial IPCC had revealed shocking failings. “The original investigation was reliant on evidence collected from Derbyshire police – that is not independent and it is inexcusable it was not properly resourced, handled and executed. It clearly added to the distress of the Slack family who have been through so much in the last five years.”
Horley added that a comprehensive and national review into domestic violence was necessary because of stubborn statistics that reveal two women are killed by a current and former partner every week, while one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.Horley added that a comprehensive and national review into domestic violence was necessary because of stubborn statistics that reveal two women are killed by a current and former partner every week, while one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
“Those figures have not changed for 10 years,” she said. “We have had endless reviews into individual tragedies but to really find out what is going wrong we need a national response to a national problem.”“Those figures have not changed for 10 years,” she said. “We have had endless reviews into individual tragedies but to really find out what is going wrong we need a national response to a national problem.”
Backing Refuge’s call for an inquiry, Melony Slack said cuts to domestic violence services made her fear women were less safe than her sister was five years ago. “It feels like the situation is even more precarious than when Rachael died,” she said. “We know how much difference it can make if women have advice and somewhere safe to go, but instead of more funds we are seeing what is already there being taken away. We need to do more – but all we see is cuts.” Backing Refuge’s call for an inquiry, Melony Slack said cuts to domestic violence services made her fear that women were less safe than her sister was five years ago. “It feels like the situation is even more precarious than when Rachael died,” she said. “We know how much difference it can make if women have advice and somewhere safe to go, but instead of more funds we are seeing what is already there being taken away. We need to do more – but all we see is cuts.”