Joint release by the Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS), Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), and the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
 

Intimate partner homicide

With about seventy women killed by their partners or ex-partners each year, killing an intimate partner is the most common form of homicide in Australia.

Alarmingly, 2020 may well see that number rise, as self-isolation measures designed to contain COVID-19 are likely to exacerbate abuse and violence against women and their children.

Despite widespread media coverage about this urgent problem and a growing demand for change among the public and policy-makers, we have limited knowledge about the patterns of behaviour leading up to each homicide, or the nature of the relationships between victims and offenders.

In a new collaborative research partnership, ANROWS and the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) will explore these patterns, identifying potential points of intervention, as well as events and behaviours within relationships that could foreshadow fatal outcomes.

 “The goal is to be able to describe a common sequence of events, interactions and relationship dynamics in the weeks, days and moments leading up to the homicide,” said Dr Samantha Bricknell, lead researcher from the Australian Institute of Criminology.

By improving our understanding of the trajectories within relationships, this research will help determine potential points of intervention. This information will build on the important work produced by the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Network and by the death review processes in most states and territories, which identify areas for improvement in services and systems’ responses to prevent domestic violence–related deaths.

Researchers will examine data from the Australian Institute of Criminology’s National Homicide Monitoring Program, looking at relevant homicides that occurred between 2006 and 2018.

“We’re looking for both micro and macro patterns in the data: features that will capture the complex motives, behaviours and events that underlie intimate partner homicide and identify similarities and differences between past cases,” said Dr Bricknell.

“We hope that these indicators may well provide us with a key to recognising when a relationship is likely to be on a path to fatal violence—and offer a practical guide to intervening. Working towards that goal, we can aim to reduce the devastating frequency with which women in Australia die at the hands of their partner or ex-partner.”

Breaches of parenting orders

The new research program will also include a project between ANROWS and the Australian Institute of Family Studies to investigate the enforcement of parenting orders under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth).

As the federal parliamentary inquiry into the family law system continues, this research will provide important evidence about how separated couples interact with the court when parenting orders are contravened.

This evidence will provide a baseline from which policy-makers can measure the impact of any future reforms. 

“The effectiveness of parenting orders is often mired in claims that they are frequently not complied with,” said Dr Rae Kaspiew, from the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

“This project will create a clearer evidence base to understand why people fail to comply with parenting orders.”

“We also want to know how frequently allegations of family violence and sexual abuse are raised to justify breaches of parenting orders. And when there are allegations of violence involved in contravention matters, what proportion are sought to be enforced by mothers as compared to fathers?”

“This research will seek some answers.”

The project will be based on several elements, including analysis of contravention matters. The researchers will also survey separated parents who have obtained parenting orders in the last five years and survey professionals working in and with the family law system.

Fourth Action Plan to reduce violence against women and their children

These two studies will form part of a new program of research led by ANROWS under the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010­­-2022 and funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

ANROWS CEO, Dr Heather Nancarrow, emphasised the importance of both these research projects in addressing crucial gaps in our understanding of domestic and family violence.

“These programs under the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan will have important implications for policy-making,” said Dr Nancarrow.

“As we move through a period of uncertainty and elevated risk of violence, we should be reaching more than ever for the evidence to guide us.”

For further information, contact Michele Robinson at ANROWS
on +61 0417 780 556 or email heather.champion@anrows.org.au.

About ANROWS

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS) is a not-for-profit independent national research organisation.

ANROWS is an initiative of Australia’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022. ANROWS was established by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments of Australia to produce, disseminate and assist in applying evidence for policy and practice addressing violence against women and their children.

ANROWS is the only such research organisation in Australia.

An essay related to the first VRC Crime in Times of the Pandemic webinar is now published on the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation website, http://www.hfg.org/pandemicviolence.htm

This Friday there will be a second Crime in Times of the Pandemic Webinar.  

Social Distancing in the Pandemic: Policing and Compliance

Friday 24 April, 2-3 pm (British Summer Time)

Policing Social Distancing: Policing and Social Restrictions in the COVID Pandemic

Dr Peter Neyroud

Who Complies with Social Distancing --- and Who Breaks the Rules? First Results from a Longitudinal Study

Prof Amy Nivette & Prof Manuel Eisner

Discussion of questions

 

NOTE:
You will have to register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3jpIqFnURF2Cd4CnciT6bg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Published on 17 April 2020

INTRODUCTION

Violence Against Women and Girls

Data Collection during COVID-19

Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

This is a living document that summarizes principles and

recommendations to those planning to embark on data

collection on the impact of COVID-19 on violence against

women and girls (VAWG). It was informed by the needs

and challenges identified by colleagues in regional and

country offices and has benefited from their input. It responds

to the difficulties of adhering to methodological,

ethical and safety principles in the context of the physical

distancing and staying at home measures imposed in

many countries.

This note complements UN Women’s brief and WHO’s

paper on COVID-19 and violence against women and girls.

Pandemics like COVID-19 can exacerbate not only violence

within the home, but other forms of VAWG. Violence

against female healthcare workers as well as migrant

or domestic workers increases. Xenophobia-related

violence, harassment and other forms of violence in public

spaces and online is more prevalent and the risk of

sexual exploitation and abuse in exchange for health care

services and social safety net benefits becomes more likely.

Some groups of women may experience multiple and

intersecting forms of discrimination making them even

more vulnerable to violence. Access by women survivors

of violence to informal support networks (friends and

family), as well as to quality essential services, including

psychosocial support, may be limited or need to be delivered

differently as a result of physical distancing regulations.

VAWG

remains a serious human rights violation and an

important health concern during this pandemic. Addressing

it must be a priority.

Availability of COVID-19 related products on Tor darknet markets / R Broadhurst, M Ball and C Jiang
Twenty Tor darknet markets were surveyed on 3 April 2020 to conduct a census of COVID-19 related medical products and supplies. There were 645 listings, including 222 unique listings, of COVID-19 related products across 12 markets. Three markets accounted for 85 percent of all unique listings identified.
Australian Institute of Criminology April 2020
 
Family violence and COVID‐19: Increased vulnerability and reduced options for support. / K Usher, N Bhullar, J Durkin, et al
Gives an overview of the current impact of isolation, economic stress, instability and COVID-19 on family violence in the home.
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. April 2020
 
Monitoring changes in domestic violence in the wake of COVID-19 social isolation measures / Karen Freeman
Police recorded data for March 2020 shows no evidence of an increase in domestic violence since social distancing was implemented. Will this continue?
NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research April 2020
 
National Police Foundation launches real-time situational awareness tool for law enforcement to track COVID-19 officer exposures and PPE impacts / National Police Foundation (USA)
A tool launched in the US to provide critical insights into police commanders and executives.
National Police Foundation March 2020
 
Open versus closed: the risks associated with retail liquor stores during COVID-19 / Catherin Paradis (Canada)
A brief report on the risks of keeping alcohol outlets open as an essential service during the pandemic and also the risks of closing outlets.
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction April 2020
 
Pandemic policing needs to be done with the public’s trust not confusion / Darren Palmer
Explores the inconsistencies of police powers during the pandemic across Australian states.
The Conversation April 2020
 
Policing the Coronavirus outbreak: processes and prospects for collective disorder/ S Reicher, C.Stott
A briefing on factors leading to rioting, the response to the Coronavirus and the role of police in maintaining order.
Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. April 2020


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