Charles Davey reports on the police’s duty of care to warn domestic abuse victims of an imminent attack
- Examines the facts of Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police v Woodcock, in which it was found that the police have no duty of care to warn potential victims of danger.
By way of background to Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police v Woodcock [2025] EWCA Civ 13, Mrs W had been in an ‘on-off’ relationship with RG for two years. During that time, Mrs W had made complaints of threats by RG to kill her, RG was convicted of head-butting Mrs W’s husband, and RG had received repeated harassment warnings. RG went on to breach bail conditions on multiple occasions.
On 4 February 2015, Mrs W ended the relationship. She reported that RG had made threats of serious violence to her, her young son and daughter. In that month, RG was ejected from Mrs W’s workplace and arrested for criminal damage and harassment. He was bailed, with prohibitions on contacting Mrs W or her children, and on going to her work or
