Police Officers Do Not Need More Training; But Different Training. Policing Domestic Violence and Abuse Involving Children: A Rapid Review

Millar, Annemarie; Saxton, Michael; Överlien, Carolina; Elliffe, Ruth

doi:10.1007/s10896-021-00325-x

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Thus, safety plans involving children may need to be responsive to how children’s unique and developing social identities may influence their perceptions of, and responses to domestic violence, help-seeking, and strategies for coping (Etherington & Baker, 2018 ). The study also highlights the importance of enhanced training for first responders such as police who need to increase their focus on the needs of children (Millar et al, 2021 ). As well, child protection professionals play a critical role in ensuring that they are not blaming the mother for failing to protect the children, and turning their attention instead to the role of the perpetrator and his abusive behaviour (Lapierre & Côté, 2011 ; Mandel, 2010 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Some of this research would suggest that abuse victims are often blamed by service providers for failing to protect their children from exposure to violence and revictimized by the very systems that need to protect them (Mandel, 2010 ). Mandatory services such as police (Millar et al, 2021 ) and child protection (Lapierre & Côté, 2011 ) may lack the training to recognize that there are two victims in most case: the mother and the child(ren).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Coping Strategies in Women and Children Living with Domestic Violence: Staying Alive

et al. 2023

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Purpose Children exposed to domestic violence are at risk of adverse short- and long-term psychosocial effects and of being abused themselves. However, mothers and children face systemic gaps when seeking safety from domestic violence services and police. Safety planning typically focuses on women, overlooking their multiple social identities and excluding their children. We explored safety strategies used by mothers and children coping together with severe domestic violence. Method Interviews with 30 mothers who experienced severe or potentially life-threatening domestic violence and 5 adults who experienced domestic violence in childhood were qualitatively analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing five major themes: ongoing communication, appeasing the abuser, soothing activities, exposure reduction, and fostering independence. Results Interpreting participants’ experiences in terms of the mother-child dyad, we found that mothers and their children worked together to reassure each other, keep each other safe, and make plans to leave their abuser. Conclusions Safety planning for the mother-child dyad could build on children’s existing coping strategies and recognize and support children’s desire to protect their mother and themselves effectively and safely according to their developmental stage.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coping Strategies in Women and Children Living with Domestic Violence: Staying Alive

et al. 2023

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“…Furthermore, our results highlighted the role of IPVAW training on shaping police schemas and, in turn, police pro-activity for those police officers who endorsed IPVAW myths, as Schema Theory indicates (Rumelhart, 1984). Previous studies have shown that not every type of training is effective (Millar et al, 2022). Recent research has recommended continuous and specialized training to improve officers' attitudes and perceptions (Islam & Mazerolle, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Police Attitudes Toward Intervention in Gender Violence: the Role of Training, Perceived Severity, and Myths About Intimate Partner Violence Against Women

Serrano-Montilla,

Garrido-Macías,

Sáez-Díaz

et al. 2023

J Fam Viol

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Purpose Even though evidence has broadly confirmed that public attitudes toward intervention shape the decision-making process when dealing with IPVAW events, rather less is known about what determines the police decision-making process. Research support that police attitudes toward intervention in IPVAW explain differences when police officers response to IPVAW events. This research analyzes the combined role of IPVAW myths, perceived severity, and IPVAW training in reactive (tolerance for IPVAW and minimal police involvement) and proactive (important police task and pro-arrest) police attitudes toward intervention in gender violence. Methods Drawing from snowball sampling, we collected responses of 211 Spanish police officers via online subject-recruitment platform. Results The main findings of our study confirmed that IPVAW myths lead to less proactive attitudes toward intervention both directly and through a reduction in the perceived severity of IPVAW. Importantly, we found a moderating role of IPVAW training, suggesting that the endorsement of IPVAW myths leads to less proactive responses, but only for untrained police officers. Conclusions Our findings suggest the importance of IPVAW training on police proactive attitudes toward intervention via IPVAW myths instead of perceived severity. Police training programs to both novice and experienced officers should be focused on confronting IPVAW myths in order to improve police perception, evaluation and involvement in gender violence events.

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“…Given the prevalence of IPV within young people's relationships coupled with the relative lack of awareness of coercive control, it is important that all professionals interacting with young people receive training on recognising and responding to all form of IPV including coercive control. These include police officers (Millar et al, 2021), teachers (Davies & Berger, 2019) and health care professionals (Turner et al, 2017). More broadly.…”

Section: Implications and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young People’s Understanding of Coercive Control in Northern Ireland

Lagdon

Klencakova

Schubotz

et al. 2023

Journ Child Adol Trauma

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Coercive control and related research have progressed significantly in the past number of years, with an ever-growing evidence base adding to its construct. However, currently there is a lack of evidence on young people’s knowledge and understanding of coercive control. We included a module of questions in the 2020 Northern Ireland Young Life and Life and Times survey (n = 2,069) with the aim of capturing baseline measurable data on understanding of coercive control within intimate relationships among 16-year olds. Only 16% (n = 325) of respondents had heard of the term coercive control and knew what it meant. Findings also revealed that females, compared to males, were less likely to have heard of coercive control. When the victim being subjected to the behaviours was portrayed as female as opposed to male there was stronger recognition of the associated risks, need for support, and the seriousness of the situation. Our study findings call to question young people’s knowledge of unhealthy intimate relationship behaviours beyond blatant and deliberate acts of harm such as those described in the coercive control scenarios. Gender disparities in awareness of coercive control across the study sample also give cause for concern given the increased risk of intimate partner violence among women and girls as well as lower reporting and help seeking among male victims. Results solidify the necessity for dedicated preventative and intervention efforts which focus on intimate relationships and reflect the diverse needs and experiences of young people. Supporting young people to act on their own behalf is an important step change to empowerment within their own intimate relationships.

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Police Officers Do Not Need More Training; But Different Training. Policing Domestic Violence and Abuse Involving Children: A Rapid Review

Cited by 8 publications

References 45 publications

Coping Strategies in Women and Children Living with Domestic Violence: Staying Alive

Coping Strategies in Women and Children Living with Domestic Violence: Staying Alive

Assessing Police Attitudes Toward Intervention in Gender Violence: the Role of Training, Perceived Severity, and Myths About Intimate Partner Violence Against Women

Young People’s Understanding of Coercive Control in Northern Ireland

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