An inspectorate report in Northern Ireland said that there had been improvements in the way domestic violence and abuse incidents were handled by the criminal justice agencies in Northern Ireland, and a growing recognition of the need to understand issues around domestic violence and abuse: but it made 13 recommendations for further improvement.
Source: Domestic Violence and Abuse: A thematic inspection of the handling of domestic violence and abuse cases by the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland, Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland
Links: Report | CJINI press release | BBC report
Date: 2010-Dec
A report examined the main features of violence against women in Europe. It gave an overview of action designed to address this form of violence – in terms of prevention, victim support, and social reintegration – and highlighted the policy implications.
Source: Chiara Crepaldi, Manuela Samek Lodovici and Marcella Corsi (with Sandra Naaf), Violence Against Women and the Role of Gender Equality, Social Inclusion and Health Strategies: Synthesis report, European Commission
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Dec
A position paper examined the issue of male violence against women at a European and national level, and made recommendations for action.
Source: Towards a Europe Free from All Forms of Male Violence Against Women, Centre on Violence against Women/European Women's Lobby
Links: Paper | EWL press release
Date: 2010-Dec
Researchers examined the outcomes of early intervention and multi-agency working for victim/survivors of domestic violence, their children, and perpetrators. Early intervention was shown to be effective in both of the projects involved.
Source: Catherine Donovan, Sue Griffiths and Nicola Groves with Hilary Johnson and Jeffrey Douglass, Evaluation of Early Intervention Models for Change in Domestic Violence: Northern Rock Foundation Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, 2004-09, Northern Rock Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Nov
The government published a cross-departmental plan for tackling violence against women and girls. It also announced pilots of domestic violence protection orders from the summer of 2011, giving the police the power to protect victims in the aftermath of an attack by preventing alleged abusers from having contact with the victim or from returning to the victim's home. The Department of Health published an action plan designed to improve services for women and child victims of violence; and it announced up to £3.2 million to improve and expand sexual assault referral centres.
Source: Call to End Violence against Women and Girls, Home Office | Improving Services for Women and Child Victims of Violence: The Department of Health Action Plan, Department of Health
Links: Cross-department plan | Hansard | Home Office press release | DH action plan | Hansard | DH press release | Green Party press release | Women's Aid press release | BBC report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Nov
A report said that a substantial minority of domestic violence cases involved a male victim and female perpetrator.
Source: Domestic Violence: The Male Perspective, Parity
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2010-Sep
An article examined sexual violence policy in England and Wales. Criminal justice proceedings could intensify or create further trauma for sexual violence survivors.
Source: Alison Phipps, 'Violent and victimized bodies: sexual violence policy in England and Wales', Critical Social Policy, Volume 30 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Aug
An article examined whether political devolution in Scotland had led to positive gender outcomes, focusing on the case of domestic violence policy. Domestic violence provided a 'striking case' where devolution had made a difference to the substantive representation of women, with positive – albeit fragile – outcomes.
Source: Fiona Mackay, 'Gendering constitutional change and policy outcomes: substantive representation and domestic violence policy in Scotland', Policy & Politics, Volume 38 Number 3 Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Jul
Researchers examined the delivery of accredited programmes for domestic violence offenders in custody and community settings. Many aspects of the programmes were delivered as intended, particularly the main group work element.
Source: Karen Bullock, Sophie Sarre, Roger Tarling and Mike Wilkinson, The Delivery of Domestic Abuse Programmes: An implementation study of the delivery of domestic abuse programmes in probation areas and Her Majesty s Prison Service, Research Report 15/10, Ministry of Justice
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Jul
The Welsh Assembly Government published an integrated strategy and implementation plan designed to address all forms of violence against women in Wales that extended beyond domestic abuse – including issues such as honour based violence, female genital mutilation, and forced marriage.
Source: The Right to be Safe, Welsh Assembly Government | The Violence Against Women and Domestic Abuse Implementation Plan 2010-13, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Strategy | Implementation plan | WAG press release | Womensgrid report
Date: 2010-Mar
A report called for the national roll-out of multi-agency risk assessment conferences to tackle domestic abuse. By bringing all agencies involved in a case together to share information, a co-ordinated safety plan could be put together more quickly and effectively.
Source: Saving Lives, Saving Money: MARACs and high risk domestic abuse, Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse
Links: Report | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Mar