Download Dyfed Powys Domestic Violence Profiling Project

Profiling domestic abuse
across Dyfed Powys: Some
emerging themes
Sarah Wydall
Alan Clarke
Aberystwyth University
Dyfed Powys LCJB Conference on Crime,
Disorder and Anti-Social Behaviour
Multi-agency round table discussions on improving DV
policy and practice : (Police, Crown Prosecution
Service, Chief Crown Prosecutor, Court
Representatives, Probation and Community Safety
Managers)

Option One: Each region examine one aspect of
victims’ progress through the CJS e.g. from disclosure
to arrest.

Option Two: A gap analysis of progression though the
CJS across the four regions highlighting good
practice.
Key Research Objectives:
 A gap analysis of progression though the CJS
across the four regions highlighting good
practice.
 An analysis of the Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel
‘failed cases’ involving domestic violence
Research Design
In-depth semi-structured interviews
Multi-agency focus groups in each of the
four regions
Documentary analysis of the Hate Crime
Scrutiny Panel’s minutes and additional
notes
Analysis of secondary data on attrition
rates from incident to post sentence
Emerging themes
Inconsistencies in:
 ‘Golden Hour’ evidence gathering at the
scene
 Safe-guarding victims using a risk-based
approach
The Golden Hour
The police role is crucial in evidence
gathering at the scene
The use of photographic evidence is
limited and of insufficient quality to be
used in court
Hester and Westmarland (2005)
Safeguarding Victims using a risk-based
approach
 Risk – recognition by practitioners that ‘risk’ is a
social construct
 Access to resources
 Different agencies using different risk
assessment tools (CAADA/APCO)
Implications for Multi-Agency Risk Assessment
Conferences (MARACs) and Independent
Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs)
Possible recommendations and further
fieldwork
 More co-ordinated multi-dimensional response
 Consistency in use of risk assessment tools
Fieldwork to explore:
 How agencies perceive and respond to the needs of
the victim e.g. CJS as a resource
 The relationship between ‘choice’ and access to
support via risk assessment scores.
 Whether ‘real’ choice exists or is the idea of ‘choice’
just a new rhetoric that has been embraced by CJS