THE LEAD for Local Policing in Oxfordshire has co-authored a new book which looks at how domestic abuse is policed.
Chief Superintendent Katy Barrow-Grint collaborated with other senior police officers and academics to examine how violence against women and girls (VAWG) is policed.
Policing Domestic Abuse: Risk, Policy and Practise explores the theoretical analysis of domestic abuse through available research.
This includes critical reviews of different kinds of abuse, an examination of relevant laws and policy-making, data from police and support sources, and other key perspectives.
Chief Supt Barrow-Grint said that the work “managed to cross that divide that often you don’t see in policing or academia.”
“We’ve worked together to consider practical policing and evidence-based practice.
“The value of that is something quite different and it’s being reviewed by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner looking at it, as well as the National Police Chief’s Council lead and the Home Office.
“You sometimes miss having that opportunity to look at the evidence base to test things and to work with academics, but I think policing is getting a lot better at that.”
She said that the need for this kind of evidence basis is important in maintaining trust: “Trust and confidence in policing is integral to everything that we do, and is at the heart of everything that I do.”
Speaking on some of the findings of the work, she said: “There will always be gaps in terms of things that could change or be done differently.
“One of the things I write academically about is adolescent domestic abuse– teenagers, particularly between the ages of 13 and 16, who in my personal opinion fall through the National Legislative gap because statutory legislation around domestic abuse starts at 16 Plus.
“I think we see a lot of younger children having relationships at younger ages, and the consequences of that aren’t picked up through the domestic abuse legislation.”
While she said that from a policing perspective child protection procedures would currently deal with such a situation, “I think there would be value in nationally around reviewing the statutory legislation around domestic abuse and bringing the age limit down to 13 and above.”
“That then provides an ability to provide better services from partner agencies, particularly around what we can give to teenagers.
“It’s an area that needs exploring and that’s come out of the research that I’ve done in writing this book.”
She explained that while she works as a police officer: “in my evenings and weekends I put my heart and soul into writing about research that I’m doing which I think will help policing in the future.
“It shows how dedicated our staff are, but yes there will always be problems– I don’t disregard that.
“But there are also people in policing who are absolutely here to improve things, make things better, and do the right thing for victims.
“I hope you see from what I’ve written and what we do that that’s where things lie.”
On the application of the book’s findings, Chief Supt Barrow-Grint said that the work “has provided us with a really good opportunity to say what works in terms of the research.
“And then we made that into something that’s readable for new officers coming into policing, for those already working in domestic abuse, and for communities alike.
“So what we think is that this book isn’t just about police officers reading it or academics, it’s for anybody, and you don’t have to have previous knowledge.
“It will explain everything from the history of domestic abuse right through to practical policing issues that we face every day.”
