Police and crime comission for the policing area which covers Ross-on-Wye has put forward questions to Chief Constable Pippa Mills on the concerns of victims raised in the latest performance report.

The most recent police perfromance report shows that victim satisfaction levels are fluctuating across the area covered by the West Mercia police force, with none of the aspirational satisfaction targets currently being met. Victims of violent crime have also reported a significantly reduced rate of satisfaction since April 2021.

Following the launch of a new quarterly satisfaction board, PCC John Campion is seeking reassurance that the new arrangement will help West Mercia Police focus on the experience of victims. He is calling for the force to improve satisfaction by regularly reassuring and updating victims on their case progress.

The PCC has raised concerns regarding the difference in outcomes across West Mercia. Herefordshire offenders are more likely to receive a charge, while those in Shropshire are least likely. He added that improvements to the way officers take action against domestic abuse offenders has seen vast improvements to arrest rates. However, this has not been replicated elsewhere. Mr Campion wants to hear from the Chief Constable to find out what the force will put in place to support victims to get the justice they deserve.

He said: “Scrutinising is an important opportunity to put forward issues and concerns related to police performance following June’s report. As PCC, I will continue to hold the Chief Constable to account to ensure victims get the service they deserve and expect.”

At the beginning of August Mr Campion reminded victims of domestic abuse that support is there, after a report highlighted that the cost of living is making it harder for people to flee. The report, issued by leading domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid, found that 96 per cent of the 137 women polled have had their finances harmed by the rising cost of living.

Funding was renewed earlier this year to support West Mercia Women’s Aid’s Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA) scheme for another three years. The scheme provides specialist tailored support to all high-risk victims of domestic abuse across West Mercia. A Young Person’s IDVA has also been launched to support those aged over 13 who are experiencing domestic abuse in their own relationships.