‘This statement is true to the best of my knowledge and belief’: a provisional assessment of the utility of police victim statements in the qualitative understanding of domestic violence and abuse

Authors:
Anna Hopkins Open University, UK

Search for other papers by Anna Hopkins in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
and
Paul K. Miller University of Cumbria, UK

Search for other papers by Paul K. Miller in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
Restricted access
Get eTOC alerts
Rights and permissions Cite this article

Understanding the factors that influence the decisions made by victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) has, for some time, been a key area of focus for professionals working within the Criminal Justice System and academic researchers alike. Using female victims’ reported decision-making around incidences of DVA as an illustrative case study, this article analyses N=120 police victim statements (PVSs), collected by officers in one force in Northwest England. The usefulness of a PVS as a form of qualitative research data to better understand DVA is examined by means of a deductive content analysis.

Drawing on the literature addressing decision-making by victims in DVA, a simple coding frame was developed to provide a structure for the initial investigation of the PVSs to examine the type of data contained in these legal documents. Findings suggest that, while they have some limitations, PVSs are a valuable and currently under-utilised form of qualitative data to research and understand victim decision-making in DVA.

  • Aldridge, J. (2013) Identifying the barriers to women’s agency in domestic violence: the tensions between women’s personal experiences and systemic responses, Social Inclusion, 1(1): 312, doi: 10.17645/si.v1i1.109.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Anderson, D.K. and Saunders, D.G. (2003) Leaving an abusive partner: an empirical review of predictors, the process of leaving, and psychological well-being, Trauma, Violence and Abuse, 4(2): 16391, doi: 10.1177/1524838002250769.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Arai, L., Shaw, A., Feder, G., Howarth, E., MacMillan, H., Moore, T.H.M., Stanley, N. and Gregory, A. (2021) Hope, agency, and the lived experience of violence: a qualitative systematic review of children’s perspectives on domestic violence and abuse, Trauma, Violence and Abuse, 22(3): 42738, doi: 10.1177/1524838019849582.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Aroustamian, C. (2020) Time’s up: recognising sexual violence as a public policy issue: a qualitative content analysis of sexual violence cases and the media, Aggression and Violent Behavior, 50: 101341, doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2019.101341.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Barrett, B.J. and Pierre, M.S. (2011) Variations in women’s help seeking in response to intimate partner violence: findings from a Canadian population-based study, Violence Against Women, 17(1): 4770, doi: 10.1177/1077801210394273.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Birt, L., Scott, S., Cavers, D., Campbell, C. and Walter, F. (2016) Member checking: a tool to enhance trustworthiness or merely a nod to validation?, Qualitative Health Research, 26(13): 180211, doi: 10.1177/1049732316654870.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Bowles, R., Garcia, R.M. and Garoupa, N. (2009) Crime reporting decisions and the costs of crime, European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 15(4): 36577. doi: 10.1007/s10610-009-9109-8

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Canter, D. and Alison, L.J. (2003) Converting evidence into data: the use of law enforcement archives as unobtrusive measurement, Qualitative Report, 8(2): 222, doi: 10.46743/2160–3715/2003.1885.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • College of Policing (2021) Investigative interviewing, https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/investigations/investigative-interviewing.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Cluss, P.A., Chang, J.C., Hawker, L., Hudson Scholle, S., Dado, D., Buranosky, R. and Goldstrohm, S. (2006) The process of change for victims of intimate partner violence: Support for a psychosocial readiness model, Women’s Health Issues, 16: 26274, doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2006.06.006.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Crown Prosecution Service (2017) Violence against women and girls, https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/violence-against-women-and-girls.

  • Curtis, A., Vandenberg, B., Mayshak, R., Coomber, K., Hyder, S., Walker, A., Liknaitzky, P. and Miller, P.G. (2019) Alcohol use in family, domestic and other violence: findings from a cross‐sectional survey of the Australian population, Drug and Alcohol Review, 38(4): 34958, doi: 10.1111/dar.12925.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Davies, K., Block, C.R. and Campbell, J. (2007) Seeking help from the police: battered women’s decisions and experiences, Criminal Justice Studies, 20(1): 1541, doi: 10.1080/14786010701241317.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Donovan, C., Hester, M., Holmes, J. and McCarry, M. (2006) Comparing Domestic Abuse in Same Sex and Heterosexual Relationships: Initial Report from a Study Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Sunderland: University of Sunderland/University of Bristol.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Durfee, A. and Messing, J.T. (2012) Characteristics related to protection order use among victims of intimate partner violence, Violence Against Women, 18(6): 70110, doi: 10.1177/1077801212454256.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Epstein, I. (2010) Clinical Data-mining: Integrating Practice and Research, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  • Felson, R.B., Messner, S.F., Hoskin, A.W. and Deane, G. (2002) Reasons for reporting and not reporting domestic violence to the police, Criminology, 40(3): 61748, doi: 10.1111/j.1745–9125.2002.tb00968.x.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Ferrari, G., Agnew-Davies, R., Bailey, J., Howard, L., Howarth, E., Peters, T.J., Sardinha, L. and Feder, G.S. (2016) Domestic violence and mental health: a cross-sectional survey of women seeking help from domestic violence support services, Global Health Action, 9(1): 29890, doi: 10.3402/gha.v9.29890.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R., Turner, H. and Hamby, S.L. (2005) The victimization of children and youth: a comprehensive, national survey, Child Maltreat, 10(1): 525, doi: 10.1177/1077559504271287, Erratum in Child Maltreat, 2005 May; 10(2): 207. PMID: 15611323.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Fisher, R.P. and Geiselman, R.E. (1992) Memory Enhancing Techniques for Investigative Interviewing: The Cognitive Interview, Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Flin, R., Boon, J., Knox, A. and Bull, R. (1992) The effect of a five‐month delay on children’s and adults’ eyewitness memory, The British Journal of Psychology, 83(3): 32336, doi: 10.1111/j.2044–8295.1992.tb02444.x.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Francis, L., Loxton, D. and James, C. (2017) The culture of pretence: a hidden barrier to recognising, disclosing and ending domestic violence, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(15–16): 220214, doi: 10.1111/jocn.13501.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Greenberg, M.S. and Beach, S.R. (2004) Property crime victims’ decision to notify the police: social, cognitive, and affective determinants, Law and Human Behavior, 28(2): 17786, doi: 10.1023/B:LAHU.0000022321.19983.ea.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Harrell, E. and Langton, L. (2013) Victims of Identity Theft, Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.

  • Hayes, D. and Devaney, J. (2004) Accessing social work case files for research purposes: some issues and problems, Qualitative Social Work, 3(3): 31333, doi: 10.1177/1473325004045667.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Heron, R.L. and Eisma, M.C. (2021) Barriers and facilitators of disclosing domestic violence to the healthcare service: a systematic review of qualitative research, Health and Social Care in the Community, 29(3): 61230, doi: 10.1111/hsc.13282.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Houry, D., Rhodes, K.V., Kemball, R.S., Click, L., Cerulli, C., McNutt, L.A. and Kaslow, N.J. (2008) Differences in female and male victims and perpetrators of partner violence with respect to WEB scores, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(8): 104155, doi: 10.1177/0886260507313969.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Hsieh, H. and Shannon, S.E. (2005) Three approaches to qualitative content analysis, Qualitative Health Research, 15(9): 127788. doi: 10.1177/1049732305276687

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Idriss, M.M. (2017) Not domestic violence or cultural tradition: is honour-based violence distinct from domestic violence?, Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 39(1): 321, doi: 10.1080/09649069.2016.1272755.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Lerner, C.F. and Kennedy, L.T. (2000) Stay–leave decision making in battered women: trauma, coping and self-efficacy, Cognitive Therapy and Research, 24: 21532, doi: 10.1023/A:1005450226110.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Leverick, F., Chalmers, J. and Duff, P. (2007) An evaluation of the pilot victim statement schemes in Scotland, https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20180516092251/http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2007/03/27152727.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Metropolitan Police (2021) Privacy notice, https://www.met.police.uk/privacy-notice/.

  • McCarthy, M. (2019) ‘All I wanted was a happy life’: the struggles of women with learning disabilities to raise their children while also experiencing domestic violence, Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 3(1): 10118, doi: 10.1332/239868019X15475690594298.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • McCarthy, M., Hunt, S. and Milne‐Skillman, K. (2017) I know it was every week, but I can’t be sure if it was every day: domestic violence and women with learning disabilities, Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 30(2): 26982, doi: 10.1111/jar.12237.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • ONS (Office for National Statistics) (2017) Focus on violent crime and sexual offences, England and Wales, year ending March 2016, Chapter 2: Homicide, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/compendium/focusonviolentcrimeandsexualoffences/yearendingmarch2016/homicide.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Pain, R. (2014) Everyday terrorism: connecting domestic violence and global terrorism, Progress in Human Geography, 38(4): 53150, doi: 10.1177/0309132513512231.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Randall, W.L. and Phoenix, C. (2009) The problem with truth in qualitative interviews: reflections from a narrative perspective, Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, 1(2): 12540, doi: 10.1080/19398440902908993.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Rhodes, K.V., Cerulli, C., Dichter, M.E., Kothari, C.L. and Barg, F.K. (2010) ‘I didn’t want to put them through that’: the influence of children on victim decision-making in intimate partner violence cases, Journal of Family Violence, 25(5): 48593, doi: 10.1007/s10896-010-9310-z.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Robinson, L. and Spilsbury, K. (2008) Systematic review of the perceptions and experiences of accessing health services by adult victims of domestic violence, Health and Social Care in the Community, 16(1): 1630, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2524.2007.00721.x.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Sim, J. and Waterfield, J. (2019) Focus group methodology: some ethical challenges, Quality and Quantity, 53(6): 300322, doi: 10.1007/s11135-019-00914-5.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Singer, S. (1988) The fear of reprisal and the failure of victims to report a personal crime, Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 4(3): 289302, doi: 10.1007/BF01072455.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Spangaro, J., Koziol-McLain, J., Rutherford, A. and Zwi, A.B. (2020) ‘Made me feel connected’: a qualitative comparative analysis of intimate partner violence routine screening pathways to impact, Violence Against Women, 26(3–4): 33458, doi: 10.1177/1077801219830250.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Stanley, N., Miller, P. and Richardson Foster, H. (2012) Engaging with children’s and parents’ perspectives on domestic violence, Child and Family Social Work, 17(2): 192201, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2206.2012.00832.x.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Thompson, M.P. and Kingree, J.B. (2006) The roles of victim and perpetrator alcohol use in intimate partner violence outcomes, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21(2): 16377, doi: 10.1177/0886260505282283.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Trendl, A., Stewart, N. and Mullett, T.L. (2021) The role of alcohol in the link between national football (soccer) tournaments and domestic abuse – evidence from England, Social Science and Medicine, 268: 113457, doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113457.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Visschers, J., Jaspaert, E. and Vervaeke, G. (2017) Social desirability in intimate partner violence and relationship satisfaction reports: an exploratory analysis, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 32(9): 140120, doi: 10.1177/0886260515588922.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Voce, I. and Boxall, H. (2018) Who reports domestic violence to police? A review of the evidence, trends and issues in crime and criminal justice [electronic resource], Australian Institute of Criminology, 559: 116, doi: 10.3316.982229837445814.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • WalterMaurer, E.M., Ortega, C.A. and McNutt, L. (2003) Issues in estimating the prevalence of intimate partner violence: assessing the impact of abuse status on participation bias, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18(9): 95974, doi: 10.1177/0886260503255283.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • Wei, H. and Watson, J. (2019) Healthcare interprofessional team members’ perspectives on human caring: a directed content analysis study, International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 6(1): 1723. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2018.12.001

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
Anna Hopkins Open University, UK

Search for other papers by Anna Hopkins in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close
and
Paul K. Miller University of Cumbria, UK

Search for other papers by Paul K. Miller in
Current site
Google Scholar
Close

Content Metrics

May 2022 onwards Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 2326 1106 62
Full Text Views 763 18 0
PDF Downloads 448 20 2

Altmetrics

Dimensions