Resources for addressing police perpetrated domestic violence


Tue 06 Jun 2017

Resources for addressing police perpetrated domestic violence NZFVC has compiled some resources on addressing police perpetrated intimate partner ...

Resources for addressing police perpetrated domestic violence

NZFVC has compiled some resources on addressing police perpetrated intimate partner violence below.

In April 2017, a police officer was charged with the murder of his estranged wife and the attempted murder of a man she was believed to be in a relationship with in Invercargill.

Appearing briefly at a hearing in May, he was remanded in custody.

Research and resources on police perpetrated intimate partner violence

US research has estimated the rate of abuse perpetration by police officers as up to 15 times higher than the general population.

The report Hands Up at Home: Militarized Masculinity and Police Officers Who Commit Intimate Partner Abuse (Goodmark, 2015) draws attention to factors such as the power, training and socialisation of police officers. The report also sets out barriers to victims seeking help.

The International Association of Police Chiefs has developed a Domestic Violence by Police Officers model Policy (revised 2003, currently being updated).

The US National Prevention Toolkit on Officer Involved Domestic Violence is part of an effort to prevent violence in the homes of criminal justice families.

Diane Wetendorf (USA) has written extensively on the issue and published a number of resources including a handbook for victims, an annotated safety plan and a police power and control wheel.

A book Police Wife: The Secret Epidemic of Police Domestic Violence 2nd Edition (Roslin, 2nd edition, 2017) has won a series of awards. It includes detailed advice for victims, family and friends and detailed recommendations for police, governments, the public, advocates, the media and academics (in the Appendices, freely available online).

Related media

Top police boss offers to intervene in sex assault case, as victims lose faith in force, Stuff, 05.02.2018

Long-serving police officer back at work after harassment investigation, Stuff, 11.01.2018

Senior police officer in Northland faces criminal charges after sex abuse complaint, Stuff, 12.12.2017

Christchurch Inspector Paul Fremaux stood down over harassment allegations, Stuff, 16.05.2017

Police give sex complaint file against senior officer to Crown to decide on charges, NZ Herald, 08.10.2017

Former police officer sentenced to home detention for snooping on 21 women, Stuff, 11.07.2017

Lynley Tulloch: Police standards, sexism and social sadism, Stuff, 30.05.2017

Dunedin cop charged with shooting of wife remanded in custody, NZ Herald, 18.05.2017

Indecent assault report, victim's personal details left on dash of police car in Auckland CBD, NZ Herald, 17.05.2017

Senior Christchurch cop stood down amid harassment allegations, NZ Herald, 16.05.2017

IPCA to investigate leaked letter sex claim against senior Northland police officer, NZ Herald, 13.05.2017

Former police officer pleads guilty to using database to snoop on 21 women, Stuff, 08.05.2017

Leaked letter tells of alleged police sexual assault, Otago Daily Times, 05.05.2017

Invercargill shooting: Community in shock after police officer Ben McLean charged with murder, NZ Herald, 27.04.2017

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