Addressing domestic abuse within the police – exploring Welsh police forces’ response to victims and offenders as employees

This small project was instigated in response to the current crisis of police legitimacy, particularly regarding Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Violence against women committed by serving police officers e.g., David Carrick and Wayne Cousins has shaken trust in the police and called into question their organisational integrity. One of the key challenges levelled at the police is the need to effectively manage internal issues regarding misogyny, harassment and domestic abuse (HMICFRS, 2021). As the senior panel response to the ‘super complaint’ on Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse (PPDA) acknowledged, ‘the police response to PPDA is a feature of policing that is significantly harming the interests of the public’ (Gov.uk, 2022).