Fourteen arrested in domestic abuse operation

Fourteen people have been arrested during a two-day operation to target domestic abuse perpetrators.

Thames Valley Police officers and detectives across Oxfordshire joined forces on Thursday and Friday to visit addresses and arrest suspects.

They detained and questioned people wanted for domestic violence or threats, controlling and coercive behaviour, breaching bail conditions, or economic, psychological or emotional abuse.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Olly Wright said he would encourage domestic abuse victims to contact the police and "take every opportunity to break the cycle".

The operation started at 4am on Thursday and seventeen attempts were made resulting in 14 arrests.

That included one Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) breach, where the suspect was found hiding in a cupboard at the victim's address.

The force said they had also seized "multiple mobile phones" and booked suspects into custody at Abingdon Police Station before questioning them.

TVP reported that two of them had been charged and remanded, one to prison and the other bailed by the courts.

Eleven were released on bail with "robust conditions", or given a DVPO.

Staff also interviewed two further suspects voluntarily on Friday.

Ch Insp Jamie Cuthbertson, of the Oxfordshire Local Command Unit, said the days of action "demonstrate our ongoing commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and holding offenders to account".

"We want victims to know they are not alone," he said.

The force said that Chief Constable Jason Hogg and ACC Wright had "stopped by to give their support to the operation".

Mr Wright said TVP "will always treat domestic abuse as a priority", adding that the "adverse impact on children witnessing a parent being abused must never be underestimated".

He said he "was really heartened by the determined team work I saw".

"Abuse often continues behind closed doors for years, and we need to take every opportunity to break the cycle."

TVP also signposted people to charities and organisations such as Victims First.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line.

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