NCJ Number
158252
Journal
Focus on Police Research and Development Issue: 6 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 56-58
Editor(s)
B Gresty
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This report surveyed the policies and procedures adopted by 42 English and Welsh police forces regarding their response to domestic violence.
Abstract
The survey evaluated how closely the forces followed Home Office circular 60/1990, which recommended that police take a more interventionist approach to domestic assault cases, record and investigate such incidents in the same way as other violent crimes, and adopt a more sympathetic attitude toward victims of domestic abuse. Nearly all the forces had a domestic violence policy in place, and over half had a specialist unit with at least some responsibility for responding to domestic violence. The survey results indicate that police officers had increased their awareness of domestic violence issues and were more sympathetic to victims, but many did not arrest the offenders, and there seemed to be little systematic recording or monitoring of domestic violence cases. Domestic Violence Officers (DVOs) were committed to their work and offered a great deal of long-term support to victims, but seemed to have a limited effect on the overall police response to domestic assault. Victims who were interviewed reported very positive contact with DVOs, but less satisfaction with their treatment by uniformed officers and the criminal justice system.