A new book examined the subject of domestic violence and the way in which it interacted with the criminal justice system. It considered how agencies such as the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, the probation service, Children's Services, the courts, the prison service, and voluntary agencies such as Women's Aid worked together at a local level. It also considered the role of the Home Office, and the limits of a crime-centred response to the issue.
Source: Nicola Groves and Terry Thomas, Domestic Violence and Criminal Justice, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Dec
A report examined the treatment of the views of children when their parents sought court intervention in custody disputes in Scotland and there were allegations of domestic abuse made by one or both parents. It said that fewer than half of children had contact orders that reflected their wishes, and that this varied by age. The report said that courts should not assume that contact would benefit the child. It recommended improvements in the methods for taking views, training for those involved in seeking children's views, and protections for children from retaliatory abuse.
Source: Kirsteen Mackay, The Treatment of the Views of Children in Private Law Child Contact Disputes Where There is a History of Domestic Abuse, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
Links: Report | SCCYP press release
Date: 2013-Dec
A report evaluated the domestic violence disclosure scheme pilots. The pilots aimed to introduce a consistent process for the use of existing police powers to disclose information to an individual about previous violent offending by their partner. The report raised issues around the police process, low public awareness and understanding, and low awareness of the scheme amongst some frontline police officers. It identified a need for guidance to support greater consistency across different local areas, and for support for those who received a disclosure. The report made recommendations.
Source: Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) Pilot Assessment, Home Office
Links: Report | Hansard (Written statement) | Women's Aid press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined mental health professionals' knowledge of, and attitudes to, domestic violence, and their preparedness to respond to disclosures by service users. It said that few professionals routinely asked service users about the topic, and most thought they lacked adequate knowledge of support services. It concluded that there was a need for training to improve knowledge and competencies, and for clearer pathways of referral to specialist services.
Source: Sarah Nyame, Louise Howard, Gene Feder, and Kylee Trevillion, 'A survey of mental health professionals' knowledge, attitudes and preparedness to respond to domestic violence', Journal of Mental Health, Volume 22 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the views of children and young people on the impact of substance use on domestic violence and abuse. It discussed the implications for social care practice.
Source: Sarah Galvani, ' Drugs and relationships don't work : children's and young people's views of substance use and intimate relationships', Child Abuse Review, Online first
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined the impact of funding cuts on specialist domestic violence support services. It said that there had been a move towards commissioning generalist, non-specialist services, with notable losses of both targeted refuge provision and longer term, community-based work. It noted regional variations in the loss of services, and the potential impact on the statutory services. The report called for local commissioners to work with specialist providers in making best use of available resources.
Source: Katy Taylor, A Growing Crisis of Unmet Need: What the figures alone don t show you, Women's Aid Federation of England
Links: Report | WAF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined the practice of family mediators in screening for domestic violence cases during Mediation Information Assessment Meetings. MIAMs were introduced following the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act of 2012 as a means of bringing separating couples together to discuss legal disputes. The meeting also assessed eligibility for legal aid funding, including funding on the grounds of domestic violence or abuse. Drawing on a small scale study, the article suggested that, although the observed mediators screened for domestic violence, the question of the effectiveness of that screening remained unanswered.
Source: Paulette Morris, 'Mediation, the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act of 2012 and the mediation information assessment meeting', Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, Volume 35 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Nov
A report evaluated a 15 month pilot of domestic violence protection orders. DVPOs were introduced by the Crime and Security Act 2010 to provide immediate protection for victim-survivors by enabling police to issue a domestic violence prevention notice to place 48 hour restrictions on the perpetrator. This was then followed by a DVPO, issued by the magistrates court, for between 14 and 28 days. The report supported a wider roll out of DVPOs, but recommended procedural refinements and identified training needs. It recommended that primary legislation should be considered, to lengthen DVPNs from 48 hours to between 4 and 7 days, as well as to criminalize breaches of DVPOs.
Source: Liz Kelly, Joanna Adler, Miranda Horvath, Jo Lovett, Mark Coulson, David Kernohan, Mark Gray, Joseph Hillier, and Sian Nicholas, Evaluation of the Pilot of Domestic Violence Protection Orders, Research Report 76, Home Office
Links: Report | Hansard (Written statement)
Date: 2013-Nov
An article examined adolescent to parent violence cases reported to the police. It examined victim, offender and incident characteristics from 1892 cases, most of which involved violence against the person or criminal damage in the home. The study found that the majority of offenders were male, and over 75 per cent of victims were female.
Source: Rachel Condry and Caroline Miles, 'Adolescent to parent violence: framing and mapping a hidden problem', Criminology and Criminal Justice, Online first
Date: 2013-Nov
An inspectorate report examined how domestic violence and abuse was addressed by the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland. The report said that differences in practice and approach still remained between different Police Service of Northern Ireland officers and districts, despite the PSNI domestic incident policy aimed at fostering a consistent approach. The report noted increased reporting of instances of domestic violence and abuse, but that detection rates had fallen. The report called for victims to be adequately supported and placed at the centre of the criminal justice process.
Source: Domestic Violence and Abuse: A follow-up review of inspection recommendations, Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland
Links: Report | CJINI press release
Date: 2013-Oct
An article presented the results of a study that tracked domestic violence cases in England over six years through the criminal justice system, and compared cases involving male and female perpetrators. Gender differences were found relating to the nature of cases, forms of violence recorded, frequency of incidents, and levels of arrest.
Source: Marianne Hester, 'Who does what to whom? Gender and domestic violence perpetrators in English police records', European Journal of Criminology, Volume 10 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Sep
A report examined the effect of legal aid reforms that required victims of domestic abuse to provide prescribed evidence in order to access support. It said that there was evidence that the regulations were restricting access to legal advice and representation. Half of the victims surveyed did not have the prescribed forms of evidence to access family law legal aid. 16.7 per cent of respondents had had to pay over £50 to obtain copies of the required evidence, and 37.5 per cent had had to wait longer than 2 weeks to get copies of their evidence. 60.5 per cent of respondents took no action in relation to their family law problem as a result of not being able to apply for legal aid.
Source: Evidencing Domestic Violence: A barrier to family law legal aid, Rights of Women/Women s Aid England/Welsh Women s Aid
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Aug
A paper examined how changes in unemployment affected the incidence of domestic abuse. 'Strong evidence' was found (in contrast to the conventional wisdom) that male and female unemployment had opposite effects on domestic abuse: an increase in male unemployment decreased the incidence of intimate partner violence, while an increase in female unemployment increased domestic abuse.
Source: Dan Anderberg, Helmut Rainer, Jonathan Wadsworth, and Tanya Wilson, Unemployment and Domestic Violence: Theory and evidence, DP1230, Centre for Economic Performance (London School of Economics)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jul
A report examined domestic violence cases where the victim refused to engage with, or withdrew from, the criminal justice process. It considered why victims refused to engage; measures taken to try to involve victims in this process and address their safety; the most effective way to ensure a successful conviction; and further steps that could be taken to improve conviction outcomes and victim safety.
Source: Domestic Violence, Non-Engagement or Withdrawal of Victims, Crown Prosecution Service
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Jun
An article examined how a sample of men accomplished desistance from abusive behaviour. Even men committed to desistance might require programmes to support them over a period of several years. Desistance was best understood as a process and not an outcome. The men's experiences underlined the need for interventions to be substantially more desistance-focused.
Source: David Morran, 'Desisting from domestic abuse: influences, patterns and processes in the lives of formerly abusive men', Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Volume 52 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jun
A report examined the coalition government's pledge to prevent violence against women and girls. Although there was good work in some areas of government, in other key areas the pledge was 'virtually meaningless'.
Source: Holly Dustin and Holly Shepherd, Deeds or Words? Analysis of Westminster government action to prevent violence against women and girls, End Violence Against Women
Links: Report | EVAW press release | Durham University press release | BHA press release | NAHT press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-May
An article examined the 'Making Safe' scheme, a multi-agency initiative designed to provide a co-ordinated and integrated response to domestic violence by focusing on both victims and perpetrators. A key feature of the intervention was that it enabled victims to remain in their own homes, provided it was considered safe to do so, and re-housed perpetrators. The study highlighted the increased opportunities for victims and their families to engage in recovery work while remaining in the family home.
Source: Alan Clarke and Sarah Wydall, '"Making Safe": a coordinated community response to empowering victims and tackling perpetrators of domestic violence', Social Policy and Society, Volume 12 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-May
An article examined common elements, differences, and minimum standards when applying restorative justice in cases of violence against women in Greece and the United Kingdom.
Source: Theo Gavrielides and Vasso Artinopoulou, 'Restorative justice and violence against women: comparing Greece and the United Kingdom', Asian Journal of Criminology, Volume 8 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Apr
The coalition government published a revised action plan for delivering its strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.
Source: A Call to End Violence against Women and Girls: Action Plan 2013, Home Office
Links: Action plan | Hansard | Home Office press release | EVAW press release | Labour Party press release
Date: 2013-Mar
A study found that over half of young people aged 13-14 had some direct experiences of domestic abuse, whether as victims, witnesses, or perpetrators.
Source: Claire Fox, Mary-Louise Corr, David Gadd, and Ian Butler, From Boys to Men: Phase One Key Findings, From Boys to Men Project
Links: Report | Manchester University press release
See also: Claire Fox, Mary-Louise Corr, David Gadd, and Ian Butler, 'Young teenagers' experiences of domestic abuse', Journal of Youth Studies, Online first
Date: 2013-Mar
A report said that false allegations of rape and domestic violence might be rarer than previously thought. In only a very small number of cases was there sufficient evidence, and sufficient public interest, to prosecute a person suspected of making a false allegation of rape or domestic violence.
Source: Alison Levitt and Crown Prosecution Service Equality and Diversity Unit, Charging Perverting the Course of Justice and Wasting Police Time in Cases Involving Allegedly False Rape and Domestic Violence Allegations, Crown Prosecution Service
Links: Report | CPS press release | Hansard | EVAW press release | Rape Crisis press release | Daily Mail report | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2)
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined two recent coalition government proposals for 'victim-focused' crime prevention – the domestic violence disclosure scheme, and plans to criminalize stalking behaviour. These supposedly 'preventative' proposals were in fact responsive and problematic, as their implementation relied upon the existence of victims. Rather than effectively preventing abuse, victims' voices were instead being used to enhance and expand legislation. Criminal justice policies alone were unable to prevent violence against women, and more engagement needed to occur outside of the criminal justice arena.
Source: Marian Duggan, 'Using victims' voices to prevent violence against women: a critique', British Journal of Community Justice, Volume 10 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb