Frontline police responses to domestic abuse incidents involving children

Abstract

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 acknowledged the devastating impact domestic abuse can have on children and young people (UK Public General Acts, 2021). The Act recognised children who see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right. Identifying children experiencing domestic abuse is therefore crucial, and police called to a domestic abuse incident can play a critical role in this.

The Home Office commissioned Ipsos UK in partnership with the Connect Centre, University of Lancashire to carry out research. The research reviewed frontline police officer responses to domestic abuse incidents involving children. It aimed to better understand current practice, processes, attitudes and behaviours among responding officers when attending these incidents.