POLICE claim that changes into the way domestic abuse is handled in Gloucestershire have been made after a report from the IPCC into the murder of hairdresser Hollia Gazzard.

Gloucestershire Constabulary responded to a report from the Independent Police Complaints Commission over its handling of the events leading to the death of Hollie Gazzard by saying that there had since been improvements.

As a result of Hollie’s murder the force has introduced a set of ten questions for anyone who reports domestic abuse, an additional tag in their database and prevented anyone below the level of a supervisor from closing an incident related to domestic abuse.

Hollie was stabbed at the hairdresser's where she worked in Southgate Street in Gloucester on February 18 last year.

Three days earlier Hollie had reported Maslin to police for the theft of her bank card and money from her account.

According to the IPCC report Officers made two attempts to arrest Maslin prior to Hollie’s murder but there were discrepancies as to which addresses they were given to find him.

The report also revealed that Maslin was not listed as wanted on the police database despite the fact that it would have increased the likelihood of him being caught.

In their report the IPCC found that the contact between police and Hollie before her murder was "proportionate but that the force's domestic abuse policies and training in place at the time hindered a comprehensive response".

The report added: “The Domestic Abuse policy should be reviewed as soon as possible; prior to the stated end date, so that officers receive adequate guidance on how to meet these aims.

“The information elicited from the PPB [Public Protection Bureau], the control room and the training team illustrate that a great deal of learning has already taken place, and changes are in the process of being implemented.”

Responding to the report, Assistant Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary Richard Berry said: "Hollie's murder shocked the whole community and had a profound effect on so many of us, both professionally and on a personal level.  Our thoughts remain with her family”.

"We recognised that there were weaknesses in some of our training and systems when it came to handling domestic abuse at the time.  I've spoken with Nick Gazzard about the findings of the report and fully acknowledged those shortcomings.  

“I am very grateful to Nick for his continued work promoting domestic abuse awareness and helping community safety”.  

"It was vitally important to react quickly to those issues and make some very significant steps forward. 

“Great progress has been made in many areas including working across our partnerships. In terms of policing response, our recent work has been commended in the most recent report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary”.

"Part of Hollie's legacy will undoubtedly be an increased awareness amongst all of us about the nature of domestic abuse and the devastating impact it can have. Everyone has a responsibility to confront it regardless of where it occurs”.

To read the full report visit: bit.ly/1EFJWc1