HAMPSHIRE Constabulary has been criticised in a hard-hitting report that accuses it of failing to support the victims of domestic violence.

The HM Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) says the proportion of domestic abuse incidents that result in police action has dropped dramatically and is now the lowest in England and Wales.

The HMIC report highlights Hampshire’s “unacceptably low” arrest rates for crimes involving violence in the home.

It also complains that until recently interviews with domestic abuse victims were conducted over the phone, which meant the risk they faced was not fully identified.

HMIC has just published its annual review of all 43 police forces in England and Wales.

It describes Hampshire police as “Good” but says the constabulary’s effectiveness in cutting crime and keeping people safe “requires improvement”.

“HMIC has significant concerns about the way that the force responds to some vulnerable victims,” says the report.

“It has unacceptably low arrest rates for crimes relating to domestic abuse and a very high proportion (more than 60 per cent) of domestic abuse cases that do not proceed on the grounds that ‘the victim does not support police action’.”

But the report was described as “overly-critical” by the chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers.

John Apter cited the unprecedented demand faced by police across the county and warned that budget cuts meant resources were being stretched to the limit.

He said: “Instead of recognising the devastating cuts that we are facing, all the HMIC is doing is wagging its finger and telling us how bad we are. I don’t think that’s fair - and I don’t think that’s how the public sees us.”

The report says the force is good at preventing crime and tackling anti-social behaviour and also praises its commitment to neighbourhood policing.

But it adds: “HMIC has significant concerns about the way that the force responds to some vulnerable victims.”