NCJ Number
215366
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: 2006 Pages: 368-383
Date Published
2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the central issues of local policymaking regarding domestic violence and analyzes the changing attitudes of police officers toward the policing of domestic violence.
Abstract
The analysis revealed that both public opinion and pressure from academic researchers on the British Government have exerted a strong influence over local police policy and practice. Police headquarters and senior managers believe that public opinion, the Home Office, and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) Reports have exerted the most influence over police policy and practice regarding domestic violence. The analysis revealed that circulars from the Home Office governed police policy, but it was pressure from the HMIC that drove the implementation of the policies. Police managers and front line police officers believe that their discretion concerning domestic violence responses has been curtailed and that top down control over police practices has increased. Despite the complaint about having their discretion curtailed, the analysis indicated that police officers had more enlightened attitudes toward the policing of domestic violence than they previously held. The analysis involved the examination of HMIC Reports and local policy documents for a period of 4 years between 1990 and 1994. Interviews were conducted with 15 headquarter police managers, 25 senior police managers, and 12 ground level managers using an open-ended, structured interview format. Questionnaires were also completed via mail by 96 front line police officers. Interviews and questionnaires were analyzed for emerging themes. Notes, references, appendix