Greater Manchester Police have apologised to a woman who claims she was abused by her ex-partner during lockdown after they admitted multiple failings in her case.
The alleged victim, who has asked for her identity to be kept anonymous, claims she was beaten, tormented and controlled by her former boyfriend who had a drink and drugs problem.
Despite not wanting to support a prosecution at first, the woman said she changed her mind after looking back through horrific injury pictures she had taken of herself.
READ MORE: Mum petrified after ex who admitted strangling her goes on the run from court
But she claims when a police officer visited her flat, he told her she didn't have enough evidence, and that her partner's version of events was more credible.
She said the male officer made her feel 'judged' and didn't show any empathy - despite her being visibly traumatised.
The force have since admitted that the officer failed to take a statement from the woman, and that he made a decision to drop the case without consulting a more senior member of staff - against GMP policy.
GMP have now issued an apology to the woman after she made a complaint, saying she received an "unacceptable response during the initial investigation."
A man has since been charged with assault on a person thereby occasioning actual bodily harm.
The woman claims the abuse started not long after they met in 2020, but that it escalated when pubs closed amid strict coronavirus restrictions.
"I had a good job, had my own property, and I was quite a solid person," she said.
"We hit it off but when I look back now it was just infatuation. After about six weeks he would go missing on cocaine benders.
"Then lockdown hit and we got stuck in and all he wanted to do was drink and do drugs. He would drink a litre bottle of spirit and get to the point where he couldn't even speak."
The woman said that during one of his booze-fuelled rages, he slapped her to the head, kicked her and spat at her, leaving her with bruising to the body which lasted three months.
Police were phoned following the alleged assault but she decided at that point she didn't want to press charges.
"A couple of weeks later I decided to phone the police - I was in agony from the bruising and I couldn't even walk," she said.
The woman claims she repeatedly phoned the 101 service asking for an officer to come and take a statement, but it took weeks for someone to respond.
She said when an officer finally came to her flat to take a statement, she was left reeling at his behaviour.
"He was cold and matter of fact," she said.
"There was no empathy and I don't expect it because I'm not that kind of person but if someone is telling you that they've just been attacked by their partner I'd expect a little bit of something.
"There was just nothing. I was very heavily judged, he was nasty and short with me.
"He told me I didn't have enough evidence and that my partner's story matched up."
Following her treatment, the woman made a formal complaint to Greater Manchester Police about the officer's conduct.
In a written response from the force, they said: "Having reviewed this matter in my opinion the level of service you received on this occasion was not acceptable and the complaint is upheld."
GMP admitted that force policy for domestic violence had not been followed by the officer in that a victim statement was not obtained.
"This is mandatory and has been advised," the response said.
The force said the officer had also failed in his duty as a Police Constable cannot make a decision to close an investigation.
"As a minimum an inspector must be consulted and in the majority of cases the Crown Prosecution will be the decision maker," they said.
"This is mandatory and he has been advised."
The response stated the officer in question had been told to liaise with the Divisional Victim Services Coordinator to 'refresh' and 'up-skill himself.'
A spokesperson for GMP said: "We apologise to the victim of this case for what was - as we have acknowledged - an unacceptable response from us during the initial investigation.
"Correct procedures were not followed in this instance and we have worked to put it right by ensuring the officer involved has been given enhanced learning around victim support and provided guidance around our procedure with domestic incidents.
"We have already put in place measures to improve victim satisfaction, and have increased scrutiny of officers who attend incidents of this nature, as we strive to ensure every victim of domestic abuse is safeguarded, supported and listened to, and that offenders are brought to justice.
"Our endeavour in this case is no different and we have been committed to ensuring this case is now being brought to court in the coming months."
Domestic Abuse Helplines
- Women can call The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night. The staff will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and support
- Talk to a doctor, health visitor or midwife
- Men can call Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 8pm, and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am to 5pm) for non-judgemental information and support
- Men can also call ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm)
- If you identify as LGBT+ you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support
- Anyone can call Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes. You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV.UK Forced Marriage Unit
- In an emergency, call 999
You can also email for support. It is important that you specify when and if it is safe to respond and to which email address:
- Women can email helpline@womensaid.org.uk. Staff will respond to your email within 5 working days
- Men can email info@mensadviceline.org.uk
- LGBT+ people can email help@galop.org.uk
