ABSTRACT
An enormous amount of police time and resources are dedicated to responding to, investigating and prosecuting, and trying to prevent domestic and family violence. Police, working alongside other government and non-government partners, have an important role in ensuring the safety of victim/survivors and holding offenders accountable. In recent years, the way in which police respond to domestic and family violence has seen tremendous reform, driven by major inquiries, changing community attitudes, and a rapidly growing evidence base. Beginning with a brief review of recent Australian research into patterns of violence, this chapter provides an overview of common responses to domestic and family violence and the impact of these responses on repeat violence, victim safety, and criminal justice outcomes. Recent innovations in policing are then discussed. The chapter ends by describing some emerging challenges for police which may have implications for how police respond to domestic and family violence in the future.
