Police forces across the UK are increasingly recognizing the importance of mental health support and specialized training in handling domestic abuse cases. In Warwickshire, police have introduced wellbeing dogs to help staff cope with the stress of their demanding roles. These four-legged companions, part of the Oscar Kilo 9 network, visit police stations to provide comfort and reduce stress levels, particularly after traumatic incidents. "You've got a lot of negative in here, haven't you? Everything is just quite negative, and then you've got beautiful Freya who comes in and brings you back down to Earth," said call handler Becky Richardson. The initiative is not limited to call handlers; response officers also benefit from the calming presence of these dogs. PC Gaz Starskey noted, "We're going to horrific scenes, and sometimes we need to decompress."

Meanwhile, a report by the Naturewatch Foundation has revealed a significant gap in police training regarding the use of pets in coercive control cases. The report found that only 60% of police forces in England and Wales educate officers on how domestic abusers may manipulate pets to exert control over their victims. Mark Randell, a former senior detective and campaigns manager at Naturewatch, emphasized the need for awareness, stating, "As a police officer, you're more likely to turn up at a household with an animal than not, and there is a very clear link between abuse against animals and abuse against humans."

Survivors of domestic abuse often form deep emotional bonds with their pets, making it crucial for police to understand the dynamics at play. Samantha Billingham, from the Survivors of Domestic Abuse centre, shared her personal experience, highlighting the importance of police training in recognizing these situations. "A lot of people are staying in that situation because of their pets," she said, underscoring the need for refuges that accommodate animals.

The Naturewatch Foundation is advocating for mandatory training for all frontline officers and increased collaboration between domestic abuse professionals and animal welfare experts. This call for action aligns with Labour's 2024 election manifesto, which aims to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.