Domestic abuse risk tool ‘not fit for purpose’, minister admits

Shiva K Dhakal
www.uknepalpress.com
National Press Corporation (NPC), United Kingdom

The UK government’s safeguarding minister has admitted that the main screening tool used to determine which domestic abuse victims receive urgent support is failing. Jess Phillips told the BBC that the Dash questionnaire, relied upon since 2009, is “not fit for purpose” and must be replaced.

The 27-question assessment, used by police, social services and healthcare workers, is designed to categorise victims as high, medium or standard risk. But research and frontline experience show it frequently underestimates danger, with many women later murdered after being graded at lower risk. Families of some victims are now considering legal action against the public bodies they believe failed their loved ones.

Phillips acknowledged there were “obvious problems” with Dash but warned change would not be immediate. “Any risk assessment tool is only as good as the person who is using it,” she said, adding that the systems supporting victims after assessments were “much more important than the score itself.”

The National Police Chiefs’ Council has already recommended a shift to a new system known as Dara, developed by the College of Policing. However, more than half of UK police forces continue to use Dash, according to BBC freedom of information requests. Campaigners and charities have also criticised the tool, saying it misses cultural nuances and fails to reflect the complexity of many women’s experiences.

The Home Office is now reviewing how agencies handle domestic abuse cases as part of its broader strategy on tackling violence against women and girls, due later this year. Academics and campaigners say an updated, more reliable tool is urgently needed to ensure vulnerable victims are properly safeguarded.