External research, reports, articles, and other useful information relating to domestic abuse and VAWG

In sharing links to these resources, AAFDA makes no judgement on the accuracy or credibility of the content. Any views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AAFDA. This list of resources is not exhaustive of those available.

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Title	Author/s	Year published	Comments
Experiences of interpersonal victimization and abuse among autistic people	Sarah Douglas and Felicity Sedgewick	2023	This research sought to explore the firsthand accounts of a range of autistic people about intimate partner violence and sexual assault.
The Use of Chemical Control Within Coercive Controlling Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse	Sarah-Jane Walker, Marianne Hester and Elizabeth McCarthy	2023	This paper explores the use of chemical control by perpetrators as part of coercive controlling intimate partner violence and abuse.
The ‘officer effect’ in risk assessment for domestic abuse: Findings from a mixed methods study in England and Wales	Andy Myhill, Katrin Hohl, Kelly Johnson	2023	Multi-level modelling reveals an ‘officer effect’ whereby victims’ responses to the DASH risk assessment are influenced by the specific officer that completes the assessment.
The National MAPPA Research	Dr Natalie Mann, Professor Samantha Lundrigan and Simon Kerss	2023	A 26-month study to examine the effectiveness of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in England and Wales
Self-blame and (becoming) the crazy ex: Domestic abuse, information sharing and responsibilisation	Nicole Renehan, Charlotte Barlow and Sandra Walklate	2023	This article highlights the informal ways in which women shared and received information about domestic abuse experiences among each other to prevent domestic abuse.
‘I’m a red-blooded male’: Understanding men’s experiences of domestic abuse through a feminist lens	Nicole Westmarland and Stephen R Burrel	2023	This article draws on the experiences of 344 men using a helpline for male victim–survivors of domestic abuse.
Coercion, Control and Criminal Responsibility: Exploring Professional Responses to Offending and Suicidality in the Context of Domestically Abusive Relationships	Vanessa E. Munro, Vanessa Bettinson and Mandy Burton	2023	The article highlights the precarity of recognition of the effects of coercive control and the need to engage in more complicated discussions about when and why context matters.
Improving the ‘victim journey’ when reporting domestic abuse cyberstalking to the police	Holly Taylor-Dunn and Rosie Erol.	2023	In one UK police force, a project was developed to improve the identification, investigation and victim journey for domestic abuse cyberstalking offences.
Theorising victim decision making in the police response to domestic abuse	Nathan Birdsall and Laura Boulton.	2022	The paper provides a conceptual argument for the importance of understanding victim decision making in responding to cases of domestic abuse.
“Abusers are Using COVID to Enhance Abuse”: Domestic Abuse Helpline Workers’ Perspectives on the Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on those Living with Domestic Abuse	Zara P. Brodie et al.	2022	This project examined the nature and frequency of calls received by domestic abuse helplines since the first COVID-19 lockdown period.
‘Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? If I Go There will be Trouble and if I Stay it will be Double’: An Examination into the Present and Future of Protective Orders Regulating the Family Home in England and Wales	Ana Speed and Kayliegh Richardson.	2022	This paper offers original empirical insights into where the current law fails victims of domestic abuse. The analysis reveals three key barriers to securing occupation orders.
Come Together to End Domestic Abuse: a survey of UK attitudes to domestic abuse 2022	Sarah Davidge, Women’s Aid.	2022	This report sets out the key findings from research on attitudes towards domestic abuse to better understand where and why domestic abuse is ‘tolerated’ in our society.
‘A genuine one usually sticks out a mile’: policing coercive control in England and Wales	Andy Myhill et al.	2022	In 2015, legislation was enacted in England and Wales to criminalise coercive control. This paper presents findings from a focused ethnography conducted in two police forces in England.
Are you listening? 7 Pillars for a survivor-led approach to mental health support	Lizzie McCarthy and Phoebe Nicholson-Pallett, Women’s Aid	2022	Women’s Aid conducted research to better understand what domestic abuse survivors want and value when it comes to mental health support, and what an effective response looks like.
Policing a pandemic: changes in police response to intimate partner violence (IPV) during the first lockdown in England	Lucy Trafford	2022	This article investigates the police response to intimate partner violence (IPV) during the first lockdown in England (23 March–30 June 2020).
Mapping the benefits of the Respect Standard	Nicole Westmarland and Zuzana Zilkova	2022	The Respect Standard is a quality assurance framework for work with perpetrators of domestic abuse, and for work with male victims too. The report draws on interviews with funders, commissioners and policy leads, and incorporates feedback from Respect accredited services to give a picture of the Standard’s impact and influence.
Street gangs and coercive control: The gendered exploitation of young women and girls in county lines	Tirion Elizabeth Havard et al.	2021	This article explores young women and girls’ participation in gangs and ‘county lines’ drug sales.
Abused by the Patriarchy: Male Victims, Masculinity, “Honor”-Based Abuse and Forced Marriages	Mohammad Mazher Idriss	2021	This research adds to the patriarchal framework for understanding HBV/A and why it is committed against men.
The Economic Abuse Threat facing Girls & Women in the UK: 6 Moments That Matter in the Lives of Female Survivors	Jane Portas and Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs OBE	2021	The report has identified the 6 Moments That Matter in which survivors of economic abuse can be supported by organisations across the financial services sector.
The Shadow Pandemic – shining a light on domestic abuse during Covid	Savannah Dawsey-Hewitt et al.	2021	This report is a detailed synthesis of the impact of Covid-19 on survivors of domestic abuse and on the frontline organisations that support them.
The Batty Effect: Victim-Survivors and Domestic and Family Violence Policy Change	Lisa J. Wheildon et al.	2021	This article explores the influence of victim-survivors as change agents through the examination of the case of domestic and family violence advocate Rosie Batty.
Gendered experiences of justice and domestic abuse. Evidence for policy and practice	Women’s Aid, Hester, M., Walker, S-J., and Williamson, E.	2021	Research into gendering discourses and the role they play in women’s experiences of domestic abuse.
Race, Trauma, and Violence Against Women and Girls - Good Practice Briefing	AVA	2021	This good practice briefing highlights the necessity of trauma-informed approaches to supporting Black and minoristised women and girl survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.
Devolution and women’s disadvantage: Tackling women and girls’ multiple disadvantage at a regional level: A policy briefing	AVA and Agenda	2021	This briefing builds on the findings of Breaking Down The Barriers report. Following this publication, Agenda and AVA worked with Greater Manchester Combined Authority officials, women’s sector organisations and women with lived experience in Greater Manchester (GM) to understand how the Commission’s recommendations could be achieved across the region.
“I Have Guys Call Me and Say ‘I Can’t Be the Victim of Domestic Abuse’”: Exploring the Experiences of Telephone Support Providers for Male Victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse	Benjamin Hine, Elizabeth A. Bates and Sarah Wallace	2020	This study aims to provide information regarding the nature and context of abuse toward, and help-seeking experiences of, male victims, and explore the experiences of those supporting abused men.
Honor-Based Abuse in England and Wales: Who Does What to Whom?	Lis Bates	2020	Thematic and quantitative (regression) analyses were used to investigate whether and how HBA differed from other forms of domestic abuse and forced marriage.
Parental alienation and the family courts	Dr Adrienne Barnett	2020	An exploration of how claims of parental alienation in the family courts are being used as means to silence victims of domestic abuse.
The Impact of the Dual Pandemics: Violence Against Women & Girls and COVID-19 on Black and Minoritised Women and Girls	Baljit Banga and Sumanta Roy	2020	One of a series of position papers that will be published by Imkaan fixating a lens on issues from the margin that they wish to move to the centre.
Tackling Violence Against Disabled Women & Girls	Vision Sense with Centre for Disability Research, Lancaster University and AVA	2019	A Toolkit for Social Care, Housing, Mental Health and Safeguarding Services.
The voices of male victims: Understanding men's experiences of the Men's Advice Line	Burrell and Westmarland, for Respect	2019	The report provides unique insights into callers’ expectations and experience of the Respect Men’s Advice Line, their help-seeking behaviours, and their perceptions of domestic abuse services more broadly.
Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse - A systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis	Alyson L Huntley, Lucy Potter, Emma Williamson, Alice Malpass, Eszter Szilassy, Gene Fede	2019	A systematic review to understand the help-seeking experiences of male victims of DVA.
Breaking Down The Barriers: Findings of The Commission Into Women’s Domestic And Sexual Violence And Multiple Disadvantage	AVA and Agenda	2019	The final report of the Commission which was established to evidence the connections between women’s experiences of domestic and sexual violence and multiple disadvantage, and to fill a vital gap in the current response to their needs.
Good Practice Briefing - Technology and Violence Against Women – Helping or Harming	AVA	2019	This briefing paper aims to present an overview of the current and emerging risks, and considers potential opportunities and safety planning tips.
Good Practice Briefing: Communicating about violence against women and girls	Imkaan and Ascent	2019	This briefing we present methodologies of purpose and integrity that are rooted in an intersectional approach through fundamentally centring the voices, experiences, and demands of Black and minoritised survivors of violence.
Nowhere to Turn	Women’s Aid	2017-21	A series of reports drawing on findings from the No Woman Turned Away project which supports survivors who face barriers and structural inequalities when searching for a refuge space.
Practice Seminar Summary - Gender Based Violence and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Women’s Mental Health	AVA	2017	A summary of key points from a seminar held in May 2017 to explore the theme of gender-based violence and BME women’s mental health.
Coercive Control and the Law	Rights of Women	2016	A guide to coercive control and the law.
Who Does What to Whom? Gender and Domestic Violence Perpetrators	Professor Marianne Hester	2009	This research explores how male victims and perpetrators of domestic violence may differ from female victims and perpetrators. The report explores ‘who does what to whom’, taking into account both context and consequences.
Coercive Control	Research in Practice for Adults and Women’s Aid	N/A	A website is for social workers and other health and social care practitioners to develop their knowledge and skills in working with situations of coercive control.
Online courses	IDAS	N/A	Free online domestic abuse and sexual violence basic awareness training courses.
Spotlights: Hidden victims	SafeLives	Various	A series of information pieces focusing on groups of victims who may be 'hidden' from services or face additional barriers to accessing support.