Policing domestic and family violence

Abstract

This article examines how police respond to domestic and family violence (DFV) and the implications for the safety of women and children. Drawing on interviews with women in Brisbane, Australia, who have experienced DFV and engaged with the legal system, the study explores reasons for calling or not calling the police and the experiences of police responses between 2014 and 2017. Findings highlight the role of police culture in shaping responses and suggest that cultural change, facilitated through training, gender balance improvements, and the introduction of women-only police stations, may enhance the effectiveness of police interventions in DFV cases.