Parent abuse: A Greater Manchester Perspective - “Post austerity”

Simon Retford Professional Doctorate Student: University of Portsmouth & Detective Superintendent: Greater Manchester Police Parent abuse: A Greater Manchester Perspective - “Post austerity” West Yorkshire Police, Wakefield Wednesday 29th October2014.

Presentation • ‘In context’ • Research Aims & Objectives • Research Plan • Key themes • Pilot Findings • Next steps: contribution to knowledge & practice

‘In context’ • Detective Superintendent at GMP • Professional doctorate student • “ ‘Parent abuse’: what’s that?” • The academic context • The policing context • The safeguarding context • The austerity context & budget / staff cuts • The ‘more with less’ factor

Research Aims & Objectives Academic : • To construct & contextualise PA across Greater Manchester through qualitative investigation. • To identify Multi-agency collaborative responses. Policing / Safeguarding : • To better understand what PA is in Greater Manchester? • To understand who does what in responding to it? • To identify what already is working well & where? • To identify who is working well with who & how? • To develop recommendations to better respond to ‘PA’ in Greater Manchester. • Ultimately, to better safeguard vulnerable people!

Research Plan • Exploratory primary research • Semi-structured in-depth interviews • Involving: Agencies & charities • Small sample: pilot study Summer 2013 • Key themes & findings ‘inform’ the main research • Recommendations

Key Themes • Defining Parent Abuse • Victims & perpetrators • Causes & ‘aggravators’ • A growing problem or better reporting • Prevalence & awareness • Signposting & solutions • “What, another safeguarding problem?” • “But it’s already happening!” • Austerity, social policy & collaboration

‘Pilot’ findings • Growing awareness • Ethnic minority families • Drugs, alcohol & Mental Health • Under-reporting & the ‘fear factor’: • Shame, blame, care plans & criminalisation • Signposting, policy & solutions • ‘Holistic’ support • Collaboration opportunities

Next steps: contribution to knowledge & practice • The PA ‘bandwagon’: timing is everything! • ‘Prof Doc’ thesis process • Ongoing ‘change’ programmes • Not ‘another’ vulnerability • Collaboration & austerity • Responding: PA ‘versus’ DV / DA • Implications of inaction

Thank you & any questions? simon.retford@gmp.police.uk Tel: 07917 883702

Parent abuse: A Greater Manchester Perspective - “Post austerity”