Collaboration, risk and ‘just’ outcomes: challenges and opportunities in policing HBA

Honour-based abuse (HBA) is a complex phenomenon breaching the boundaries of the domestic abuse and violence against women frameworks within which it is dominantly situated. Although HBA is recognised as a multi-agency issue, police are ultimately responsible for responding to reports of known or suspected HBA. In 2015, a HMIC report highlighted that the police still have some way to go in terms of understanding HBA and adequately protecting victims. This paper presents findings from a project on the early identification of HBA, which generated evidence surrounding the key challenges encountered by police responding to HBA cases that may or may not have been identified as such, and recommendations on how practice can be improved. The focus is upon three key areas emerging as in need of attention: Firstly, negotiating the complexities posed by the frequently collective and collaborative nature of HBA; secondly, conducting effective risk assessments; and thirdly, ensuring a ‘just’ outcome for victims of HBA. The final part of the paper outlines opportunities for police policy and practice to be enhanced so that ultimately, victims of HBA can be more adequately safeguarded.