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Module 1 – Introduction

Welcome! Learning objectives of this Module include the following important steps: 

1. Identify basic concepts & prevalence of violence & abuse
2. Examine the characteristics of domestic violence that make policing difficult
3. Review relevant national, EU & international legislation on domestic violence & how they affect police work
4. Give an overview of the other topics that will be covered in this training

Overview of the main concepts

What are definitions & forms of violence/abuse? 

Prevalence of violence and its patterns

What characteristics of domestic violence make policing difficult?

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Overview of EU & international legislation

What are European & international legislation on domestic violence & how they affect police work?

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Overview of other Modules topics

Learn more about content of each Module & select the most interesting topic

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Definition & Forms

“Intimate Partner Violence” (IPV) – a form of DV between current or former spouses or partners.

“Domestic violence” (DV) – acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit. (Istanbul Convention)

“Violence against women” (VAW) – a form of GBV directed towards women, which results in, or are likely to result in, physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. (EIGE)

Gender Based Violence (GBV) – violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately. (EU)

“Intimate Partner Violence” (IPV) - a form of DV between current or former spouses or partners.

“Domestic violence” (DV) - acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within the family or domestic unit. (Istanbul Convention)

“Violence against women” (VAW) - a form of GBV directed towards women, which results in, or are likely to result in, physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. (EIGE)

Gender Based Violence (GBV) - violence directed against a person because of that person's gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately. (EU)

Prevalence of Domestic Violence

27%

22%

of ever-partnered women aged 15–49 have experienced forms of IPV in their lifetime (EIGE, 2023)

European women have been victims of physical and/or sexual violence by their partners since the age of 15, with prevalence across countries ranging from 13% to 32%(EIGE, 2023)

In abusive relationships, violent acts rarely occur only once. They typically are repeated over time & may become more frequent.

In many situations, the severity of violent acts increases over time.

Frequently, different forms of violence occur simultaneously.

Domestic Violence & Policing

30%

20-30%

5%

of police calls are in response to potential domestic violence cases

of policing time is dedicated to investigating DV cases

of DV cases In UK result in convictions

  • One reason for this is the difficulty of policing such cases:  An inspection report in UK (2014) revealed that many officers found domestic violence cases to be particularly challenging due to the emotional complexity, high stakes, & the potential for repeat calls.
  • In 2017 (UK) survey the complexity of gathering evidence & the need for repeated interventions were cited as reasons for discomfort.

It takes different forms, is hard to identify & can have long lasting effects

  • The most obvious & easy to identify effects are injuries caused by physical abuse. However, most of these signs disappear over time.
  • Sexual violence in domestic situations are much more difficult to identify as they often do not present physical signs (e.g. the presence of semen has a different evidentiary relevance than in cases involving non-partners)
  • Financial Abuse occurs when the abuser causes economic harm to the victim (spending her money, forcing her to give her salary or property to him, causing significant amounts of debt in her name, etc.) This can cause significant long-term harm to victims, well after they have left abusive relationships, but can only be detected via detailed investigations & most jurisdictions have limited laws protecting against them.
  • Extremely difficult to recognize is the long-term psychological trauma that can result from all types of abuse.

Overview of EU & international legislation

Istanbul Convention & its Implications for police

To prevent violence against women & DV & ensure effective multi-agency cooperation among relevant authorities

Police should work with other professionals such as healthcare providers, social workers & domestic violence shelters.

Implement coordinated policies & data collection encompassing all relevant measures to prevent VAW & DV

Officers should be well-versed in existing VAW/DV laws. Officers should work with other stakeholders to collect relevant data.

To protect & support all victims of VAW & DV & witnesses during all stages of investigation & judicial proceedings

Officers should be aware of the risks that exist for victims & witnesses & act accordingly (such as separately interviewing men & women)

To establish legal mechanisms that criminalize VAW & DV & prosecute perpetrators

Officers should understand clearly the types of evidence that must be collected to enable prosecution of perpetrators.

Supply gender-sensitive & intersectional training on male violence against women & girls

Police departments should provide appropriate training for officers.

Link to the Convention

Improve access to compensation for victims

Collected evidence can be useful in pursing financial compensation (e.g. cost of injuries, child support, elements of financial abuse)

Ensure more effective victims’ participation in criminal proceedings

Carrying out investigations in a way that takes into account the effects of abuse on victims, so that they are able to provide credible testimony.

Facilitating access to specialist support for vulnerable victims

Making referrals for possible victims, so that they can get needed help & repeats calls to police will decrease.

Improving victims’ access to information & crime reporting

Make information about investigations accessible to victims or their representatives (i.e. DV support workers)

Better aligning victims’ protection measures with victims’ needs

Orders of Protection and other measures can help police in decision-making when confronted by ‘grey’ areas.

Link to the Directive

Actions to prevent rape & increase understanding of consent

Burden is not on victims to prove that they said ‘no’ (especially in situations where this is not possible such as when drugged or drunk)

Forced marriage & female genital mutilation considered crimes

Prevalent in some cultures, officers should be aware when this may be relevant & to look for signs.

Disclosing private information online without consent is prohibited, as is “cyber-flashing”

Specialized police units that are focused on cases of cyber-abuse or violence. Officers should also look for signs of this.

New reporting procedures

Reporting approaches should be in place to allow victims & other key stakeholders access to relevant info. Especially via use of digitized methods.

Specialized assistance for victims (e.g. healthcare, sexual & reproductive services)

Procedures should be in place for making referrals to these services & officers should be familiar with them.

Link to the Directive

Upcoming Modules topics

There are seven training Modules in total, here you can learn more about each one of them and start studying.

Coercive Control

  • Refers to a range of tactics used by perpetrators to maintain power & control over their victims.
  • These tactics often occur over extended periods & can have devastating effects on the victim’s mental health & sense of autonomy.
  • Coercive control & its effects is often overlooked or misunderstood.

This Module will give you a clearer understanding of what coercive control is, why it is so harmful, & how to recognize its signs & respond effectively.

Go to Module II

Risk Assessment

  • As first responders to domestic violence police often must decide how best to ensure the safety of victims.
  • Various approaches have been developed for assessing the risk to victims, but no perfect tool exists.
  • Police have reported on the mismatch between risk assessment tools & the practical realities of frontline policing.

Within this Module, you will learn how risk assessment tools can be used to improve the investigation of DV cases, how to improve communication with victims & perpetrators.

Go to Module III

Multi-Agency Collaborative Responses to DV

Domestic Violence is an issue that involves many different types of service providers:

  • Police/Prosecutors protect victims, arrest (& prosecute) perpetrators & enforce orders of protection
  • DV Support Workers provide support to victims (counseling, legal services, temporary housing)
  • Social Workers provide support to victims & their families (especially children)
  • Healthcare providers treat the effects of abuse on physical & mental health
  • Perpetrator programme professionals work with those who commit violence (mainly men) to change their beliefs & behaviors & ensure safety of survivors.

 

These groups have goals & interests that overlap & sometimes oppose each other. Multi-agency Collaboration seeks to minimize opposition & maximize cooperation. Key elements include:

  • Responsibilities: Who is addressing what? (officially or unofficially)
  • Communication: How, when & what information is communicated between different actors?
  • Data management: What data can be shared between professionals & in what format.

In this Module we will explore the ways that police officers can work with others to improve their work.

Go to Module IV

Working with Traumatized Female Victims

  • Trauma experienced by victims can make them ‘difficult’ to interview & otherwise involve in investigations.
  • Victims may experience flashbacks of the traumatic event and/or may seek to avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma. They may also exhibit aggressive, reckless or self-destructive behaviour due to fear of further threats of violence.
  • They may also have distorted perceptions, feelings of guilt, shame, remorse & detachment or estrangement from friends or family, often caused by perpetrators.
  • Prior experiences with police or other negative stereotypes can affect how they interact with police. Likewise, stereotypes or beliefs held by officers could also negatively affect interactions with victims & investigations.
  • Police officers must balance many factors when responding to DV cases. Their ability to do so would be better (and easier) if they had a better understanding of the perspectives of victims.

Within this Module, we will give you a window on the experiences of actual female victims who have been in contact with the police during investigations.

Go to Module V

Addressing Perpetrators

  • Perpetrators often manipulate victims & service providers to maintain (& hide) their abusive relationships.
  • This is easier to do, because the psychological trauma & behavior of victims often makes perpetrators to appear as the ‘rational’ or ‘calm’ one.
  • It also is possible because police typically respond to individual incidents & are not able to see the longer-term pattern of abuse.

Within this Module, you will learn about the strategies that perpetrators use to manipulate the system (police). You will also learn skills to challenge perpetrator’s behaviour & hold them accountable.

Go to Module VI

Usage of Data & IT Tools

  • Advances in technology & availability of data has revolutionized many aspects of policing.
  • However, in many districts, the full benefit of these tools are not being deployed to improve policing of DV.
  • Data could be used to help police in identifying patterns of abuse that are difficult to identify otherwise. It can also be used to assist in risk assessment.
  • Technology could also be used by the police to make relevant information accessible to victims & other key service providers such as DV support staff.

This Module will identify some real-world examples of how data & technology are being used by to improve policing of DV cases.

Go to Module VII

Self Assessment

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Go to Module II

Co-funded by the CERV Daphne EC Program. Grant Agreement no. 101096908