Domestic Abuse Matters
Domestic Abuse (DA) Matters is a bespoke cultural change programme for police officers and staff in England and Wales, designed to transform the response to domestic abuse.
Getting it right, for the right reasons, for the right person
Domestic abuse continues to present a significant and evolving challenge for policing. For many victims, abuse escalates over time, with multiple incidents occurring before intervention, placing greater emphasis on early recognition and effective action. While awareness and understanding have developed considerably over recent years, the nature of abuse, and the contexts in which it occurs, have also become more complex.
Professionals now encounter increasingly complex and varied forms of abuse, including those involving technology, economic control, and cases requiring specialist handling such as officer‑involved incidents or rural isolation. At the same time, the responsibilities and pressures faced by different roles within policing vary significantly, influencing how domestic abuse is identified, investigated and managed.
The challenges faced by a frontline officer attending an incident differ significantly from those of an investigator building a case, a supervisor reviewing risk, or a professional standards officer managing cases involving police personnel. Different roles, teams and sectors require different knowledge and skills to respond effectively.
Getting this right requires more than awareness alone. High-quality, targeted training enables police officers and staff to translate knowledge into practice, improving the quality of investigations, strengthening safeguarding, and ultimately delivering better outcomes for victims, survivors and families.
DA Matters Police Lead, SuffolkSafeLives' DA Matters training really does deliver. It's slick, to the point and very impactive. Officers suggest it's some of the best training they've received. It provided the skills uplift we required - sending a hugely positive message across the constabulary. It's thought provoking and has certainly influenced officers to consider better questions around coercion and control.
