Specialist units for tackling violence against women and girls across Wales

Robinson, Amanda L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5071-850X and Davies, Bethan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4997-8432 2024. Specialist units for tackling violence against women and girls across Wales. [Project Report]. Cardiff: Cardiff University.

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Abstract

HMICFRS recently characterised the national policing context in relation to violence against women and girls (VAWG) offences as a matter for ‘grave concern’ given the high proportion of cases that result in ‘no further action’ by police and the sparse and variable provision of specialist units in place to effectively investigate these crimes. With funding from AWPAC, Cardiff University conducted two hybrid knowledge-exchange workshops with 10 police participants from across the four Welsh forces to understand police perceptions of the key features, implementation challenges, effectiveness and barriers to success for specialist units set up to tackle VAWG. Participants’ views of the key features or ‘ingredients’ of specialist policing responses to VAWG were captured by a virtual bulletin board (Padlet) exercise which revealed nine themes. In order of importance, these were: Specialist knowledge and expertise; Partnership working; Resources and time; Victim-led approach; Clear mission and goals; Dedicated staff; Leadership; Good communication; and Innovation. The workshops allowed participants to provide information which formed the basis for 5 case studies of specialist units/initiatives ongoing or planned in Welsh police forces. Together these illustrate the key ingredients and exemplify the potential of specialist units putting procedural justice theory into practice. Overall, the findings from this small-scale study contribute to the growing evidence base on the multiple benefits of specialist policing units for tackling VAWG, their common features and challenges, as well as examples of how these might be advantageously deployed across different policing contexts.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Cardiff Centre for Crime, Law and Justice (CCLJ) Crime and Security Research Institute (CSURI) Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Universities' Police Science Institute (UPSI)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Publisher:	Cardiff University
Funders:	All-Wales Policing Academic Collaboration
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 14:09
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/168225

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