Outcome 16 and racially minoritised women

Report from the Small Grant investigating the police responses to and support of minoritised adult women victims-survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse and the factors that influence the decision to withdraw charges.

Report

Summary

In cases of Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) it is common for survivors to withdraw support for police action; this can be for a complex matrix of reasons (1-7). The police use outcome 16 to describe the finalisation of an investigation where the suspect was identified, but the victim did not support police action (8). On average 51.4% of domestic abuse cases were discontinued in England and Wales year ending 2022 (8). This research was developed to support police forces to improve their understanding of why over half of cases are finalised in Outcome 16 and inform a better response to survivors and support prosecution. Currently there is a dearth of research which explores victim engagement and racial disparity, and this was identified as a priority area to be examined.

The research was co-produced by three police forces and three universities, who collaboratively designed the research and set objectives. The academic research team consisted of Dr Hayley Alderson, Professor Ruth McGovern, Dr Kausiki Sarma, Dr Claire Smiles (Newcastle University), Dr William McGovern, Dr Nikki D’Souza (Northumbria University) and Professor Geetanjali Gangoli (Durham University).

Key findings

1. Co-location of police and VCS organisations including specialist police personnel co-located at VCS sites to increase empathy and understanding between professionals in relation to acknowledging each sector’s perspective and organisational processes to better address survivors needs. Participants illustrated contacting the police to obtain an immediate response to stop the abuse/violence they were subjected to within a particular incident.

2. At a national level, NPCC leads to works together to address the clear post code lottery between and within forces in relation to professional practices when policing minority communities. Specialist compulsory training and refresher training should be introduced for police staff regarding cultural diversity, how to respond to victims in a trauma-informed way, how to avoid victim blaming language and increased knowledge regarding honour-based abuse and how best to support survivors.

3. Police to harness the role of community elders/leaders as gatekeepers to diverse communities due to the belief that diverse communities lack trust in the police and withhold a deep-seated culture which secures keeping issues of a criminal nature within the family to address.

4. The impact of significant court delays on Outcome 16 to be monitored within forces and on a national basis to ascertain ‘the tipping point’ i.e. at which point, do the scales tip for a victim where this becomes the primary reason for them not wishing to pursue a prosecutorial pathway? Additionally, a robust process should be established to ensure that at each point in the criminal justice journey (i.e., point of report, criminal investigation process, transfer to court) a reassessment of need is undertaken to accommodate the changing needs of the survivor.

5. Consideration to be given to whether Outcomes 16 needs to shift focus (as a failed outcome) from a policing perspective. Currently, it is largely construed as a failure due to the monitoring/accountability of the measure, but this is at odds with survivors needs at times. Police recognise that they want to keep the ‘door open’ for repeat victims to reach out for police help when needed rather than to alienate them from further support. It was proposed that victim satisfaction measures should be given greater prominence rather than Outcome 16 (service quality vs outcome of case).

Report date: September 2024.

The research was co-produced by three police forces and three universities, who collaboratively designed the research and set objectives. The academic research team consisted of Dr Hayley Alderson, Professor Ruth McGovern, Dr Kausiki Sarma, Dr Claire Smiles (Newcastle University), Dr William McGovern, Dr Nikki D’Souza (Northumbria University) and Professor Geetanjali Gangoli (Durham University). For more information, please contact Dr Hayley Alderson, hayley.alderson@newcastle.ac.uk