Here’s how police in Spain typically assess ongoing risk after long-term domestic violence or harassment cases(including cases that have been through restraining orders and may be in or out of VioGén monitoring).

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🟡 1. Risk is not based on time — it’s based on behaviour patterns

Police and risk assessors do not use a “time passed = safe” rule.

Instead they look at:

• Whether contact or attempts at contact continue
• Any escalation or repetition of behaviour
• History of previous incidents (especially repeated patterns over years)
• Breaches of previous orders (if any existed)
• Emotional or coercive behaviour (not just physical violence)

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🔵 2. Structured risk assessment tools (VPR / VPER)

Spain uses structured questionnaires and police assessment tools that evaluate:

• Frequency of incidents
• Severity of past behaviour
• Psychological control or coercion patterns
• Obsession, jealousy, or persistent pursuit
• Whether separation has triggered escalation in the past
• Access to the victim (physical proximity, shared networks, etc.)

These tools help assign risk levels such as:

• Low
• Medium
• High
• Extreme

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🔴 3. “Long-term cases” are treated as higher awareness cases

When there is a long history (months or years), police tend to:

• Give more weight to patterns than isolated events
• Consider whether behaviour has ever restarted after calm periods
• Pay attention to “cycle of behaviour” cases (calm → escalation → contact again)

Long history doesn’t automatically mean high risk — but it increases sensitivity in assessment.

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🟣 4. What can increase risk level after a long period

Even after time has passed, risk can be upgraded if there is:

• Any renewed contact or attempts at contact
• Surveillance or indirect monitoring behaviour
• Third-party involvement (friends/family messages)
• Emotional coercion or pressure
• Showing up at locations associated with the person

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🟢 5. What can reduce risk level

Risk may be downgraded if:

• There is no contact or attempted contact over time
• No escalation indicators are present
• No breaches or incidents occur
• Both parties are fully separated and stable

However, downgrade is always gradual and reassessed, not automatic.

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🧠 Simple summary

Police focus on:

“Is there a pattern of behaviour that suggests ongoing risk or potential re-escalation?”

Not:

“How long has it been since the last incident?”

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