Policing UK Honour-Based Abuse Crime

Book excerpt: This book examines the different forms that honour-based abuse crimes take and analyses the discretionary police practices employed when responding to these incidents. Honour-based abuse is an incident or crime involving violence, threats of violence, intimidation, coercion or abuse committed in order to protect or defend the honour of an individual, family and or community for a perceived breach of their code of behaviour. Based on unique UK police data, it includes examination of one hundred honour abuse cases and interviews with fifteen predominantly detective specialist police officers that investigate this crime. This book recognises the challenges encountered when policing honour-based abuse and offers recommendations for addressing them. It will particularly benefit police forces in England and Wales, the Home Office, scholars in gendered violence and policing, and non-government organisations (charities supporting victims) by highlighting some of the issues associated with policing, partnership working arrangements and safeguarding victims of honour-based abuse crimes.