Police–victim engagement in building a victim empowerment approach to intimate partner violence cases

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been highlighted as a priority for UK governments and criminal justice agencies since the 1990s. However, whilst generating significant policy and procedural responses, the overall impact continues to be criticised. This paper examines contemporary approaches to IPV identification and response, highlighting the limitations within victim engagement and empowerment. It then moves on to specific developments and theories in victimology, demonstrating how research into victim engagement is emerging and could be utilised in practice to enhance victim empowerment. It argues that policy and procedure based upon an enhanced victim empowerment approach would be necessary in striving for positive criminal justice outcomes and for increasing victim satisfaction.

Keywords:

• Policing
• domestic abuse
• domestic violence
• victimology
• victim satisfaction
• victim confidence

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank Dave Brian, lecturer in the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) School of Policing, for his guidance and supervision during the course of this research. We are also grateful for the insights and constructive feedback from the anonymous peer reviewers, which helped in refining the paper.