Can social workers and police be partners when dealing with bikie-gang related domestic violence and sexual assault?

Abstract

Welfare and criminal justice systems manifest different goals, cultures, values and working methods. In Australia, the welfare sector has a culture of empowerment and concern for victims’ rights, within which social workers focus on social justice and social change. In contrast, the criminal justice sector (police) is patriarchal and para-military in structure, focusing on enforcing and maintaining community order and safety. These differences can create tension when social workers and police need to work as partners in response to violence against women, in particular violence against women from bikie gangs. This article addresses the issue of partnerships between social workers and police when working with abused bikie-gang women. It presents the findings of recent research into social work practice with such women in South Australia, in conjunction with a brief exploration of the international literature on social work and police cultures, and partnerships. It concludes that whilst there is a great need for genuine collaboration and partnership between social workers and police in the complex context of domestic violence with links to organised crime, the cultures and mandates of these different professions make this difficult.

Keywords:

• domestic violence
• bikie gangs
• organised crime
• social workers
• police
• partnerships

Notes

1. Research carried out with qualified social workers at a feminist-oriented domestic violence agency/support service in Adelaide, South Australia.

2. ‘Bikie gangs’ is a colloquial Australian term for outlaw motorcycle clubs/gangs involved in violence and organised crime – murder, abduction, assault, torture, illicit drug manufacture and trafficking, illegal firearms possession and trafficking, prostitution, money laundering, fraud and links to security protection (Blackburn 2000, National Crime Authority 2001). Bikie gangs have distinctive names, insignia, rituals and cultures. Women only gain entry to these gangs through social and sexual relationships with one or more male members – it then becomes their place to serve and accept total domination by the male members (Wolf 1991).

3. Think-aloud is a cognitive, qualitative research technique used to expand on existing theoretical perspectives by capturing thinking processes as they actually occur. These cognitive reports generate a rich, complex portrait of practice in a particular activity (Orrell 1996).