Teenagers' Experience of Domestic Violence Refuges

Teenagers can experience domestic violence both in the family home and/or in their own relationships. Some will need to move to temporary refuge accommodation. The Government’s definition of domestic violence now includes young people aged 16 and 17. This means that refuges need to ensure that their services are appropriate and accessible for this group. This research was carried out as part of a PhD study at the University of Central Lancashire. It took place over 12 months (2014-15) in refuges across the North West, East Midlands and West Midlands in England. It involved telephone interviews with 25 members of staff and face to face interviews with 20 teenagers aged 13 to 18 years. Interviews with teenagers were repeated so they could talk about their experiences at different points during their refuge stay. This research found that teenagers need to be recognised as refuge service users in their own right. The teenage years provide an opportunity to build resilience and recovery following domestic violence and to prevent it in the future. Refuges can struggle to acknowledge and meet the rights of teenagers, and for some young people, this results in a prolonged negative experience that intensifies their experiences of abuse. The research recommendations are relevant for refuge services, policy makers, funders and other professionals. Refuges need to identify teenagers’ needs and appropriate resources are required

Protection of Borders or Protection of Women? Recently arrived immigrant women in the UK, violence and immigration policies

The research explores female immigrants’ experiences of violence and exploitation in the UK. In doing so the focus is on three ‘groups’ of recently arrived immigrant women: spouses experiencing domestic violence, trafficked women, and asylum seekers. This focus allows an evaluation of current UK immigration legislation and it’s impact, if any, on ‘victims’ of violence. In order to accomplish this a feminist and human rights consciousness is utilised. The research considers men’s use of violence and exploitation as a potential form of control to maintain power and keep women subordinate. This is undertaken within the context of state, law and media responses, and the extent to which they reflect men’s interests by ignoring abuse or blaming the victim, both of which serve to undermine the human rights of women in general and immigrant women in particular. The research demonstrates recently arrived immigrant women face multiple obstacles to accessing support and protection from the violence of others. These include language barriers, fear of repercussions, fear of authorities or lack of remedies available. The research considers the responses to situations these immigrant women experience

Teenagers' Experiences of Domestic Violence Refuges

Refuges have been central to UK domestic violence service provision since the 1970s. Early studies focused on the needs of adult women but increasingly, children and teenagers have also become the business of refuges. Much of the existing research regarding users’ experiences of refuges has, however, failed to distinguish the needs of teenagers (aged 13 to 18 years) from those of adult women and younger children. This study aims to redress this balance by examining the current service response provided by refuges for teenagers. Teenagers aged 16 and 17 are now incorporated within the Government definition of domestic violence and abuse in England and Wales (Home Office, 2013). This policy shift requires refuges to ensure appropriate provision for under-18s. The research investigates how teenagers experience refuges and whether refuge provision responds effectively to the needs and rights of teenagers. The findings can be used to inform policy and service development. This study is influenced by elements of feminist theory and the sociology of childhood which prioritise subjective understandings of experience and children’s agency. Data collection took place in refuges across the North West, East and West Midlands of England. It involved telephone interviews with 25 members of staff and face to face repeat interviews using participatory methods with 20 teenagers, resulting in 89 interviews. Originality resides in the detailed exploration of teenagers’ experiences across the length of their refuge stay and, in some cases, into their new homes. Interviews revealed an absence of educational, emotional and social support throughout the period of a teenager’s stay, and the picture was similar upon resettlement from the refuge. Difficulties experienced by teenagers during their refuge residence related to specific features of adolescence; refuges’ focus on safety and protectionism was particularly problematic for adolescent development. Refuge life was found to have severe negative effects on teenagers’ education. This study found that refuges are currently missing opportunities to reduce harm and promote prevention of future domestic violence and abuse by building teenagers’ resilience. This thesis argues for attitudinal change as well as relevant resources. The research highlights the shortcomings of refuges and links them to conceptions of victimhood in refuge policy and the changing nature and reduction of services. These conditions are restricting refuges’ ability to respect, protect and meet the rights of teenagers. This thesis advocates for teenagers to have greater visibility and recognition as service users in their own right

Parallels in Practice: Applying Principles of Research Integrity and Ethics in Domestic Violence Fatality Review (DVFR)

Purpose Within the context of the big data society, new systems of data collection on domestic violence and abuse (DVA) have emerged. One such system is Domestic Violence Fatality Review (DVFR) which captures the various dimensions of gender, violence, and abuse required to form an evidence base for prevention. However, to date, there has been limited dialogue between practitioners and researchers about the ‘doing’ of DVFRs. Method As DVFR systems vary by jurisdiction, we conducted a case study of Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) in England and Wales. Applying the Research Integrity Framework (RIF) developed by the four Women’s Aid Federations in the United Kingdom (UK), this article examines both the practice of DHR and how it is utilised as data in research. Results Informed by our situated perspectives as researchers and/or practitioners working in the field, our analysis demonstrates how undertaking DHR as a practitioner parallels collecting, accessing, and analysing data from DHRs as a researcher. Guiding principles are identified to help practitioners and researchers navigate the parallel challenges they confront and, critically, inform dialogue between practice and research. Conclusions Implications for both professional practice and research are presented. To increase transparency and confidence, we argue that more attention should be afforded to the methodological and ethical issues inherent in both the practice of DHRs, and their utilisation as a source of data in research. While DHRs have differences to DVFRs in other jurisdictions, these findings also have implications for these other systems which will also be discussed

Inside the black box: domestic homicide reviews as a source of data

Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) are a statutory review process to better understand domestic homicide in England and Wales. As a policy intervention, DHRs are intended to build a picture of the circumstances before such deaths and identify gaps in practice, policy and system response. The rationale is that this learning can improve response to domestic violence and abuse and reduce the likelihood of future homicides. However, little is known about how the DHR process operates, including how knowledge is produced or its subsequent use, including any outcomes. In effect, for the most part, DHRs are a ‘black box’. Yet, researchers are increasingly using DHR reports as a source of data. By locating ourselves within these processes, this article explores the implications of limited engagement with DHRs as a process of knowledge generation to date. It focuses on the implications for researchers, in particular the epistemological and methodological issues that arise, before considering what this might mean for policy and practice. It identifies recommendations to address key gaps in the understanding and use of DHRs for research purposes

The Consequences of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Stalking Victimisation

Stalking involves repeated unwanted communication, harassment, and intrusive behaviour. This brief report draws on a service evaluation undertaken immediately prior to and during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic creates a paradox when considering safety in the home, but it is important to recognise the dangers this presents to many victims of stalking. The information presented in this report is based on existing literature and early evidence from semi-structured interviews and discussions with 15 victims and six practitioners. Whilst lockdown measures might appear to be a time when victims are less accessible to their stalkers, early evidence from this study suggests that their vulnerability is increased. Technology has helped to facilitate stalking behaviours by providing stalkers with new approaches to control, humiliate, threaten and isolate their victims. Some lockdown restrictions have provided increased opportunities for stalkers to monitor their victims and the professional uncertainty and recognition around stalking has continued, coupled with delays in the criminal justice system. The COVID-19 crisis has reversed gains made by stalking victims and has imprisoned some victims in their homes making their whereabouts easier to monitor. Stalking behaviour has not ceased as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions and the risk of harm to victims remains significant. Effective practice, policy and legal responses are required for both the victims and perpetrators of stalking during the pandemic and afterwards

‘They Class Me as a Child because I’m 15. But They Don’t Want Me at the Kid’s Club’: Towards Rights Respecting Refuges for Teenagers

Teenagers participating in a series of interviews over the course of their stay in domestic violence refuges described difficulties associated with the constraints of refuge life. Twenty young people reported experiences that connect to and challenge UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provisions and provide guidance on how refuges might strengthen their response and meet obligations to respect, protect and promote teenagers’ rights. Recognition of teenage refuge experience is needed, alongside the provision of space, independence and privacy; support to recover from domestic violence and abuse; involvement in leisure activities; educational support; access to computers and online information; and increased opportunities for individual and collective decision making. The findings contribute to growing evidence that policy makers and other duty bearers need to develop adequate resourcing, attitudinal change, practice guidance, dedicated support, active engagement and participation, and collaborative work between agencies. Implementation strategies are also discussed

‘They speak for you when you can’t speak’ An Evaluation of the Paladin Service Research Report

The Paladin service is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and a range of other funders to provide trauma-informed support, advice and advocacy to high risk victims of stalking. From 2018 Paladin introduced a dedicated young people’s Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) for 16 to 25-year olds at high risk of stalking. The support is delivered by a team of specialist caseworkers. ISAC support predominantly entails safety planning and evidence gathering to ensure service users receive an improved response from the Police. This report provides a dedicated evaluation using over 12 months of data collected on victims’ needs and system response. The report outlines findings using outcome data for 427 service users, 75 service user feedback forms, interviews with 15 service users and five ISAC’s, and five case studies. The majority of victims referred to Paladin in 2019 were White British females. Victims commonly knew their stalker and in most cases this had been an intimate partner. Accessing specialist support is key to the emotional wellbeing and physical safety of victims of stalking, but for many the path to support was difficult and isolating. The report highlights some of the dangerous and inappropriate circumstances that victims face before accessing ISAC support, the inability of services to meet the needs of stalking victims and limited provision