A police force has issued a grovelling apology after it was revealed it had ignored a violence against women helpline for nine months.
West Mercia Police, which covers Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire, reportedly left 26 emails unread.
The missed messages spanned a nine-month period from September 2023 to June 2024.
Out of the 26 emails, six messages had been highlighted for further action and an officer had been allocated.
Despite the shortfall, Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Jones said that there was no indication that any of the women who had made contact had come to any harm.
In a statement released by the force, it said its actions were ‘below the service we would expect’ and that it hoped to ‘rebuild’ the trust of victims.
The statement said: ‘West Mercia Police is truly committed to providing the best possible service for victims and survivors and sincerely apologise that a dedicated violence against women and girls email address was not routinely monitored.
‘It’s below the service we would expect and have taken immediate action to rectify this.
‘We understand this may undermine trust and confidence in victims of violence against women and girls and it goes against the efforts we have taken and the work we have carried out to rebuild their trust.
‘We are absolutely committed to providing the best possible service for victims and survivors and endeavour to put victims at the heart of everything we do.’
Sadie Hopkins, 50, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, sent a message to West Mercia Police’s violence against women and girls inbox after a chance encounter with her abusive former partner.
He was jailed for 32 months in 2015 for kidnapping and imprisoning Ms Hopkins in her own home.
A judge issued an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting Ms Hopkins or setting foot in Shrewsbury after his release.
But Ms Hopkins didn’t get a response from the police and when she rang the non-emergency 101 number the call handler appeared ‘totally disinterested’, the BBC reported.
This is despite telling them she was frightened and hiding in her house, but no one appeared ‘to give a damn’.
The British Transport Police said no further action was taken because her former partner was travelling for work and had stepped on to the platform in Shrewsbury to allow others to get off the train, which didn’t constitute a breach of his court order.
Speaking about West Mercia Police claiming to be doing all it could to help women feel safe, Ms Hopkins said: ‘They’re just paying lip service to it as far as I’m concerned.
They say they’ve learnt lessons, but they haven’t. They’ve got a dedicated page for women and girls and it’s not being monitored, it’s disgraceful.’
A report from National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) branded violence against women and girls a ‘national emergency’.
West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion says he is committed to playing his part in tackling gender-based violence in the region.
PCC John Campion said: ‘As a man, I can never experience what some women and girls endure when they leave their front door.
‘However, this call to action from the NPCC is another positive step in acknowledging the issue on a national level and builds on the significant change I am delivering locally.
‘It’s a sad fact that violence against women and girls is happening too often in West Mercia.
‘I am committed to tackling this epidemic head-on, and that’s why I proudly fund a range of services to break the cycle of harm, and support victims on the path to recovery which also helps them to get the justice they deserve.’