A number of inquiries into policing responses to domestic violence have highlighted the need to strengthen inter-agency collaboration to improve system responses and outcomes for survivors of #DFV. With this in mind, a research team led by Dr Jess Rodgers undertook an evaluation of the co-location of a domestic violence specialist embedded in a regional police station in Queensland. This blog provides an overview of that research, along with links to relevant articles and government inquiries on DFV reforms.
“With widespread police failures in the response to domestic and family violence (DFV), innovation is critical. There is mounting evidence that DFV victim-survivors are more satisfied when police respond collaboratively with specialist DFV workers, but police support is critical for translation to broad practice. Using a range of data sources, our evaluation found three key benefits of co-location: strengthening of victim support, improved integrated response and enhancement of police practice. This article adds new knowledge about integrated responses to domestic violence, particularly where there are evidence gaps in police perspectives. In view of these findings, implications for practice support further implementation of co-locational responses in Australia.” (Rodgers et al, 2023)
“DFV workers in co-located services commonly offer crisis support, support in reporting to police and connection to external services. They assist clients with understanding and navigating their legal options, and may provide court support. Depending on the service, they may also explain the nature of DFV to clients, provide psychological services and/or counselling, run programmes for clients, work in various capacities with local boards and networks, provide legal services and undertake primary prevention work.”(Rodgers et al, 2023)
“This article discusses the findings of an evaluation of the co-location of a domestic violence specialist embedded in a regional police station in Queensland, Australia. The article first reviews research into co-location responses to DFV involving police and the context of the research site is then discussed. The methodology is then outlined. Results are discussed, divided into three key findings: strengthening victim support, strengthening integrated response and strengthening police practice. These finding have implications for police innovation in responding to DFV.” (Rodgers et al, 2023)
Police who participated in the trial identified a number of benefits including:
- enhanced victim support & satisfaction
- more timely integrated responses,
- integrated knowledge and practice shift for frontline officers
- enhanced police legitimacy with victim/survivors
- enhanced trust in system responses
- better communication
- enhanced quality of victim statements taken by police
- more efficient use of police role in responding to DFV
- better court outcomes
While the research team acknowledge the limitations of the research, based only on one police station, we believe it has implications for supporting further implementation of co-locational responses in Australia. Evidence from the evaluation was presented at the Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service Responses to Domestic and Family Violence (2022), contributed to the Queensland Government’s decision to fund 300 DFV workers to be located in police stations across the state (Palaszczuk and Ryan, 2022). We look forward to other research teams undertaking evaluations of these innovations.
Rodgers, J., Carrington, K., Ryan, V., & Carr, R. (2023). Embedding a domestic violence specialist in a police station: Police perspectives and engagement. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14613557231215902
Links to recent Inquiries and Government Response on DFV Reforms in Qld
The article is available at https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/RYSG3NQGHQNGJQFZUHZF/full
The Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland (2015) Not Now Not Ever Report and Recommendations : Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland (140 Recommendations
Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce, (2021) Hear Her Voice: Addressing coercive control and DFV in Queensland Report 1 (89 recommendations)
Independent Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family violence 14 November 2022 (78 Recommendations)
Hon. Shannon Fentiman, First progress report on domestic and family violence reforms Thursday, 22 December, 2022 (claim to have addressed or have underway responses to 74 or 89 recommendations)
