Report finds NHS training ‘inconsistent’ as victims fall through the cracks

DOMESTIC abuse should be treated as a public health emergency, a leading charity has warned, after a new report exposed widespread failings by the NHS in identifying and supporting victims.

According to the latest Office for National Statistics figures, more than 12 million people in England and Wales—around one in four adults—have experienced domestic abuse. The charity Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse (Stada) says that, despite frequent contact with both victims and perpetrators, NHS staff are often ill-equipped to intervene.

Stada reviewed domestic homicide and suicide cases published during 2024 and found that in 9 out of 10 cases, the NHS had failed in its safeguarding duties. The most common failing was a lack of proper training for staff on recognising signs of abuse.

Although national guidance recommends mandatory training for frontline NHS staff, the report found that provision remains patchy and inconsistent across services. Failures to record risk properly, share information between agencies, and link victims with mental health or alcohol support services were also highlighted.

The warning comes as a separate study in The Lancet found that more than one in four women who died by suicide and were under secondary mental health care had previously suffered domestic abuse.

Cherryl Henry-Leach, chief executive of Stada, said: “Treating domestic abuse purely as a criminal justice issue costs lives. The NHS is uniquely placed to help, but it must be properly resourced and trained to do so.”

The report urges the government to fund standardised training and improve data sharing. Without urgent reforms, Stada warns that the government’s stated aim of halving violence against women and girls by 2034 will not be met.

Tim Woodhouse, a suicide prevention expert, said as many as 1,800 suicides a year may be linked to domestic abuse, calling it “a national scandal”.

Andrea Simon, from the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said healthcare workers are often the only professionals victims may encounter: “They must be trained to spot the signs and know what to do. Inaction can lead to serious harm or even death.”

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, added: “Given the trusted relationships GPs have with patients, it is deeply worrying that chances to help might be missed.”

In response, an NHS spokesperson said: “All NHS staff must complete safeguarding training which includes domestic abuse, and this training is currently being reviewed and updated.”

A UK Government spokesperson said a new strategy to prevent domestic abuse is due later this year. “We remain committed to protecting victims, holding perpetrators accountable, and ensuring healthcare professionals have the tools to support survivors,” they said.

Help is available for domestic abuse victims in Pembrokeshire

Support services offer confidential advice, refuge and counselling

Anyone experiencing domestic abuse in Pembrokeshire is urged to seek help. Support is available 24 hours a day, and no one should suffer in silence.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

There are several local and national organisations offering confidential support, practical advice and emergency accommodation:

Key Helplines

• Live Fear Free Helpline (24/7, confidential):
  📞 0808 80 10 800
  📱 Text: 07860 077333
  📧 Email: [email protected]
• Victim Support (for anyone affected by crime):
  📞 0808 16 89 111
• Refuge National Helpline (for women and children):
  📞 0808 2000 247

Local Services in Pembrokeshire

• Pembrokeshire Domestic Abuse Services (PDAS)
  Offers outreach, one-to-one support, refuge, counselling, and children’s programmes.
  📞 01554 752 422
• Stori (formerly Hafan Cymru)
  Provides housing support, drop-in advice and specialist help for women, men and families.
  📍 8 High Street, Haverfordwest, SA61 2DA
  🕘 Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
  📞 01437 768 761
  📧 Email: [email protected]
• Welsh Women’s Aid
  A national organisation working with local providers to ensure survivors get the help they need.
  Contact via the Live Fear Free Helpline above.

You are not alone.
Whether you need immediate safety, someone to talk to, or long-term support, these services are here to help. All calls are confidential and support is available for women, men and children.

Officers praised for vital role in community safety and engagement

NEIGHBOURHOOD Policing Week 2025 is now underway, with Dyfed-Powys Police joining forces across the UK in celebrating the work of local officers and staff who serve on the frontline of community safety.

In towns and villages across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys, Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPTs) are out in force this week — not for a special campaign, but to highlight the often unsung work they do every day.

“These teams are the eyes and ears of our communities,” a Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said. “They form strong, trusting links with residents, businesses and schools, and are truly at the heart of their neighbourhoods.”

From tackling antisocial behaviour to attending community events and responding to local concerns, the NPPTs work on the ground to build trust and prevent crime before it starts.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Edwards praised the dedication of the officers, saying: “Our neighbourhood prevention and policing teams are a vital pillar to policing here in Dyfed-Powys. The work they undertake allows us to embed in our communities and understand your needs.”

He continued: “We aim to be visible and accessible, tackle the root causes of crime, and build confidence in policing. If there are specific concerns in your area, we encourage you to speak to your local officer — your voice helps shape our priorities.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llewellyn added: “Neighbourhood Policing Teams play an essential role in keeping our communities safe and connected. Their visibility, local knowledge and daily engagement with the public are key to building trust. I’m proud of the dedication shown by officers and PCSOs across Dyfed-Powys.”

Updates on local activities and community engagement throughout the week will be shared on the social media pages of each area’s policing team.

🔗 To follow your local team’s updates, visit: https://orlo.uk/Q7Kpy

📸 Neighbourhood presence: Police Community Support Officers on patrol during Neighbourhood Policing Week (Pic: DPP)

Victim tells court: ‘What he did to me is unforgivable’

A FORMER teacher and restaurant manager has been jailed for nine years after being convicted of raping a teenager in Carmarthen more than two decades ago.

Daniel Gravell, 43, carried out the attack on a 19-year-old woman in 2002, following a house gathering in the town. Swansea Crown Court heard the victim had been unwell and was taken to bed by friends before Gravell raped her while she was vulnerable and unable to consent.

The woman, now in her 40s, bravely addressed the court during sentencing on Monday (June 23), describing the lasting trauma she has experienced. She told the judge: “On the night I was raped I was extremely vulnerable. I know I’ve done nothing wrong, but shame is something I continue to feel. I’m angry about how his behaviour has shaped my life.”

She said seeing Gravell around Carmarthen in the years that followed left her feeling “uncomfortable” and that informing her family of the incident was devastating. “The look on my brother’s face will stay with me forever,” she said. “He [Gravell] needs to take responsibility for his actions.”

Gravell denied the charge of rape but was found guilty by a jury earlier this year. The court also heard he had taken explicit photos of a woman without her knowledge in 2021. In that case, Gravell had consensual sex with the woman but took naked pictures of her afterwards without asking. He later blamed the flash on his phone, claiming it had gone off accidentally.

He pleaded guilty to the voyeurism offence and was sentenced to six months, to run consecutively with the eight-and-a-half-year sentence for rape.

Judge Geraint Walters told Gravell: “Rape leaves a scar. Many never recover. It’s a terrible thing to do to another human being.” He added that a probation report found Gravell has the “potential to be a predatory offender” and that he had shown “no remorse whatsoever.”

The judge also addressed Gravell’s comment, made to a friend at the time, in which he boasted about the rape and referred to the victim using demeaning language.

Gravell, formerly employed at a Swansea school and until recently managing the Baltic Inn near Pontyates, will serve the full sentence in custody and has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

He was also charged with two further rapes, one in 2005 and another in 2022. He was cleared of the 2022 allegation, while the jury could not reach a verdict on the 2005 case. A retrial on that count will take place at a later date.

Speaking outside the court after the sentencing today, Detective Inspector Dale Thomas, said: “I can only start today by extending my deepest sympathies to the victims in this case for the horror they suffered at the hands of Daniel Gravell.  

“The bravery shown by the victims – from their initial reports all the way through to today’s sentencing – must be commended.  

“The courage it takes to report a rape or sexual offence, no matter how recent or non-recent, cannot be underestimated. I hope that today’s result brings some comfort to the victims as they begin to move forward with their lives. 

“Rape is as much a psychological offence as it is physical.  

“We have heard how a woman endured 20 years of suffering because of what Daniel Gravell did to her in 2002. 

“We must recognise that this victim did not only suffer a physical attack in 2002 but has also suffered the emotional consequences since.  

“We have also heard about the devastating impact a non-physical sex offence can have on an individual’s emotional welfare too. 

“Thanks to the bravery of the victims in this case, Daniel Gravell is now a convicted rapist and will face the punishment he so rightly deserves. 

“I want to send a clear message today: if you are a victim of rape or sexual assault, please come forward.  

“We have specially trained officers and partners who will support you every step of the way. 

“Today’s result shows that we can, and will, do everything possible to investigate and prosecute vile offenders such as Daniel Gravell.”