DASH Risk Checklist
The Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Violence (DASH 2009-2026) Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Model was implemented across all police services in the UK from March 2009. The DASH was accredited by ACPO Council, now known as National Police Chief Council (NPCC).
The DASH is a multi-agency tool used by most agencies with a focus on keeping victims and their children safe and ensuring perpetrators are proactively identified and managed. The DASH is pioneering and innovative, turning a reactive ‘it’s just a domestic’ into a proactive ‘you must ask’ questions approach. Half the questions focus on coercive control and there is a focus on stalking and so-called honour based abuse because these are the cases where women and children are more likely to be harmed and killed by abusers.
Who Is This Checklist For?
All professionals working in public protection including those who work with domestic abuse victims, stalking, so–called honour based abuse, child protection and adult safeguarding, sexual abuse, MARAC, MAPPA, mental health and missing persons.
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Identify high risk and serial perpetrators
Save and change lives through early identification, intervention and prevention
Identify risk and needs
Ensure an effective investigation
Create a common language across agencies to refer a case to risk management meetings such as MARAC
Enable information sharing
Inform decision making
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Identify high risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and honour based violence
Identify dangerous and serial perpetrators
Decide which cases should be referred to MARAC and what other support might be required
Have a common tool across all agencies that are part of the MARAC process and provide a shared understanding of risk in relation to domestic abuse, stalking and harassment and ‘honour’-based violence
Make defensible decisions based on the evidence from extensive research of cases, including domestic homicides, ‘near misses’ and lower level incidents.
Bespoke training can be delivered on request.
Contact for all training laurarichardstraining@gmail.com
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The DASH (2009-2024) Model has been built on the existing good practice of the evidence based SPECSS+ Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Model. The SPECSS+ was previously ACPO compliant and had been evaluated numerous times. Victim and practitioner focus groups have also been run to ensure the language and format worked as best it could.
The risk factors included are evidence based and drawn from extensive research and analysis by leading academics in the field into domestic homicides, ‘near misses’ and lower level incidents. The 11 questions on stalking were developed by Drs Lorraine Sheridan and Karl Roberts. The research base for each factor can be found in the practice guidance.
V DASH
WHO IS THIS CHECKLIST FOR?
If you are being abused, please ask yourself these questions. Once completed you can take it with you if you report it and meet with the police or any other professional.
If you are being stalked contact Paladin, National Stalking Advocacy Service
0203 866 4107 info@paladinservice.co.uk www.paladinservice.co.uk
You can call 24hr freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline (run by Refuge) which is available on 0808 2000 247 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
ABOUT TRAINING
DASH was initially created for the police by those in the police service. However risk assessment and management is a multi-agency process and a shared language is needed which is why the DASH was evolved and developed to be used as a multi-agency tool. The DASH is a lifeline for many victims. The questions and answers are important, so too is the action that you take. Please ensure you are trained and accredited to use the DASH Risk Model.
The DASH training has been university accredited by the University of Brighton. It has received the ‘REQ’ kite mark – recognizing educational quality. If you were trained more than a year ago to use the DASH, you need refresher training.
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Expert led masterclasses run by Laura which center the victim and focus on perpetrators.
Consistently rated as excellent, Laura delivers masterclasses on coercive control, stalking, profiling perpetrators and the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Abuse Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Tool. Ensure you are trained by an expert if you work with victims and/or perpetrators.
For registration information mail LauraRichardsPA@gmail.com
Course dates:
Preventing Murder & Suicide in Slow Motion™
February 19 | 7am PT | 2 hrs | £150 / USD $185Coercive Control Matters Masterclass
February 25 | 7am PT | 2.5 hrs | £150 / USD $185For more information on further training and services offered contact us at laurarichardspa@gmail.com
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LO1 – Understand the dynamics of domestic abuse, stalking and so-called HBV.
1.1 – Describe some characteristics commonly held by perpetrators.
LO2 – Understand the human and financial cost of domestic abuse, stalking and HBV.
2.1 – Describe the impact that the behaviours have on victims’ lives.
LO3 – Be able to identify high-risk cases of domestic abuse, stalking and HBV.
3.1 – Explain the high risk factors.
3.2 – Describe risk and how to identify and manage risk in cases.
3.3 – Explain the DASH risk assessment model.
3.4 – Explain risk management in relation to victims.
LO4 – Be able to identify dangerous and serial perpetrators.
4.1 – Describe some characteristics commonly held by perpetrators.
4.2 – Describe the level of risk associated with dangerous and serial perpetrators.
LO5 – Be confident in making defensible decisions based on the evidence from extensive research of cases including domestic homicides, near misses and lower level incidents.
5.1 – Effectively carry out a DASH risk assessment in class.
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LO6 – Deliver key training to others on how to use the DASH
Risk Model (2009-2026)
6.1 – Effectively carry out a DASH risk assessment in class
6.2 – Understand the key headlines to pass on to their own delegates.
LO7 – Demonstrate an ability to confidently use the DASH model in different settings
7.1 Understand that some staff may be completing risk identification
7.2. Understand some specialist staff will carry out a full risk assessment.
7.3. Explain settings may vary and some staff may complete the risk assessment on the telephone.
LO8 – To develop and understand group dynamics and management in a learning environment with participants from different professional backgrounds and abilities
8.1 Describe group dynamics and how best to facilitate the knowledge and information in a learning environment with representatives from different agencies.
8.2 Explain how to facilitate discussion to hear from all attendees present and check learning throughout day.
LO9 – To have comprehensive understanding of assessments methods learning how to support participants to understand the material
9.1 Practice and give feedback on others in presenting some of the material in small groups.
LO10 – By this stage the participant should be very familiar with the course material and delivery methods required
Peer reviewed assessment at the end of Day 2 to demonstrate learning and test understanding of all the course material throughout both days.
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All professionals working in the field of public protection including domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, honour based violence, safeguarding children, safeguarding vulnerable adults, missing persons, sexual violence, MARAC, MAPPA, mental health and homicide.
The training is set within the wider context of public protection, using many cases studies. It includes a session on profiling the perpetrators and making the links across violent crime to prevent homicide.
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If you are interested in attending any Online & Virtual DASH training, please email laurarichardspa@gmail.com
Laura is an award winning criminal behavioural analyst, former New Scotland Yard and an international expert on domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual violence homicide and risk assessment.
Laura trained at New Scotland Yard and the FBI Behavioural Analysis Units and is an advocate for victims and an author, producer and podcaster. Laura has a BSc in Psychology and Sociology and an MSc in Forensic and Legal Psychology.
LAURA RICHARDS
AWARDS
Head of Homicide Investigations Commendation, Commander Baker, January 7th, 2005
Head of Homicide Investigations Commendation Commander Baker, January 7th, 2005
Dod’s Charity Champions Award -National Charity of the Year June 27th, 2012
Commissioner’s Commendation, Sir Ian Blair, September 7th, 2005
Suzy Lamplugh Trust ‘Taking Stalking Seriously Award’, November 14th, 2012
Charity Times Campaigning Team of the Year Award October 18th, 2012
Commissioner Sir Ian Blair’s Letter, February 17th, 2005
Certificate of excellence from the 9th British Diversity Awards, 2003
CONTACT US
CONTACT US
L C Richards BSc (Hons), MSc, MBPsS
laura@laurarichards.co.uk
www.thelaurarichards.com
For further information on the DASH (2009-2023) Risk Model and training enquiries:
Email for Enquiries — laurarichardspa@gmail.com
Email for Training — laurarichardstraining@gmail.com