Report sheds light on victim underreporting of violence
Repeat victims of violence do not report to the police, even with serious injury and hospitalisation, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow based Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research ("SCCJR") have reported mistrust of authorities, social rules around "no grassing" and the risks associated with identifying as a victim prevent those experiencing repeat violence from seeking support .
The 2019-29 Scottish Crime & Justice Survey estimated that more than half the victims of violence in Scotland do not report it to the police. The present study, the first of its kind in Scotland, sought to shed light on this group's experiences, through 95 in-depth interviews with people who have experienced repeat violence and community workers who support them, mainly from different locations with high levels of deprivation and violence.
Dr Susan A Batchelor, a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow and co-author of the study, said: "Many of those we spoke to described having become accustomed to the continuous threat of violence and of having to cope on their own because they could not access formal support."
One man said that "when it does happen to me, it’s just like another day... It’s stuff that I grew up with, it’s like washing dishes. And I know how bad that sounds, but I’ve seen it so many times that it just is normal".
Many had also been on the receiving end of violence within institutional settings, including children’s homes, schools, prisons, and homeless hostels and hotels. These experiences contributed to a sense that the world was a dangerous place, where you could not rely on others, including the authorities.
Further, people belonging to marginalised groups can get caught up in a vicious circle of victimisation, disadvantage, and further victimisation.
Dr Batchelor explained: "Participants told us about leaving home to escape domestic violence or drug-related exploitation. Finding themselves homeless, they were then placed in emergency accommodation in areas characterised by concentrated disadvantage, increasing their exposure to violence. Yet they often felt unable to report victimisation in this context, due to social rules around ‘no grassing’ and/or fear of retaliation. Some were even excluded from victim support services because of their accommodation or substance use status. Isolation meant that drug and alcohol use was a common coping mechanism."
For some participants, identifying as a victim carried a degree of stigma, alongside the risk of further harm, by marking the individual out as a potential target.
Co-author and University of Glasgow lecturer Dr Caitlin Gormley, added that social pressures on men to be tough meant violence was almost expected of them, "increasing their likelihood of becoming victims of violence. Yet men receive less recognition as victims and there is a lack of services targeted to their needs".
The researchers suggest communities could play a critical future role in preventing violence. Dr Gormley said: "We have seen the benefits of taking a public health approach to violence prevention in Scotland and need to continue to develop community resources. Our findings also point to the value of community policing presence.
“Histories of marginalisation are associated with a lack of trust in state institutions which contributes to a culture of self-reliance, reluctance to engage with justice services, and further social isolation. The people we spoke to had a strong preference for informal resolutions and for local, peer-led, support. More sustainable funding for grassroots community projects that promote strong participation, led by people with lived experience, could be the key to ensuring these hidden groups are not only seen but are engaged in getting the support that they want."