Bedfordshire Police has made its first arrests in a proactive operation aimed at tackling domestic abuse. On Monday (17 April), the force launched Op Cadbury, a campaign to target perpetrators of domestic violence.
The operation involves officers checking on high-risk offenders, prioritizing arrests, and ensuring compliance with civil orders such as domestic violence protection orders.
The force’s dedicated domestic abuse team, Emerald, is leading the campaign.
On the first day, two individuals were arrested for separate incidents of breaching conditions.
Detective Chief Inspector Emma Pitts, force lead for Emerald, said: “Perpetrators of domestic abuse have no place in our society and as a force we are committed to bringing them to justice. Domestic abuse remains an absolute priority for us.
“In March we dealt with more than 1,100 incidents of domestic abuse, which was an increase from February, demonstrating the need for us to continue our drive and work in this area.
“We know that people are sadly living with abuse and in fear. We want to help provide the confidence for people to walk away by demonstrating the work we are doing and the support available.
“Whether you are experiencing abuse yourself, or you are worried for someone you know, there is always help available.”
In addition to focusing on offenders, measures have also been taken to improve support for victims. On the same day, the force launched a new app called WEPROTECT.
The app, which is a partnership between the force and the Domestic Abuse Alliance, offers instant victim referral for legal advice. Since its launch, 52 victims have already been referred to the app.
It has been one month since the Rapid Video Response (RVR) pilot went live in Bedfordshire. The RVR enables non-emergency victims of domestic abuse to speak to a specialist officer via video link instead of a call handler.
The new system has been praised for its speed and effectiveness, with around 20 victims safeguarded since its launch.
One victim commented that the video chat was preferred as it provided the support she needed without officers coming to her home and causing concern for her children.
If you wish to report domestic abuse, you can contact the police on 101 or report via their website. In an emergency, always call 999. You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
