RESPONDING TO WOMEN AS "CONSUMERS" OF A POLICE SERVICE: THE U.K. (UNITED KINGDOM) EXPERIENCE (1980-1990) (FROM SOCIAL CHANGE, CRIME AND POLICE: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, JUNE 1-4, 1992, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, P 245-256, 1993, JOZSEF VIGH AND GEZA KATONA, EDS. -- SEE NCJ-144794)

• NCJ Number: 144818
• Author(s): S Walklate
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Eotvos Lorand University
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Hungary

Annotation

This paper examines how British police have structured their responses to female victims of rape and domestic violence.

Abstract

One of the primary innovations adopted by the British police in responding to rape victims is the establishment of "rape suites," which provide more comfortable and sensitive surroundings away from the police station in which to conduct medical exams and interviews of rape victims. There are local variations in the police response to rape victims, and some critics argue that policing innovations for rape victims have been largely superficial, as they have failed to address the fundamental problem of male sexual violence. Regarding police response to domestic violence, the Metropolitan Police established a precedent for policing policy between 1986 and 1990; they established a domestic violence unit to develop and implement a police response tailored to the needs and circumstances of victims of domestic violence. Many forces have deployed female officers in this work, since many domestic violence victims have expressed a preference for having female officers handle their cases. Some police forces have developed a computerized records system that highlights repeat calls involved domestic violence. This facilitates the identification of women at particular risk for serious harm. 57 references