Diane Gillespie

Women, Domestic Violence and the Police: Policing Domestic Violence in Aotearoa / New Zealand - Rural Women Talk Diane Gillespie

Domestic Violence is a pervasive crime. It weaves itself into the network of our society. In Aotearoa/ New Zealand the Government has introduced legislation designed to reduce and prevent violence in the home and has seen an increase in reported domestic violence since its introduction. Despite some evidence to the contrary, when all types of violence are taken into account the majority of victims are women and children. Domestic violence can be best understood in terms of power and control in relationships, and gender relations in our society, and our socio-cultural-historical context. Given our current legislative context, policing is a critical dimension of effective intervention to reduce and prevent domestic violence. This research explores women?s experiences of the policing of domestic violence in a rural, South Island locality.