If you’d like to know more about the options for further study in the field of psychology, go to www.lsbu.ac.uk/courses/course- finder/psychology-phd to find out what’s on offer


will be to identify the most effective ways for the police to respond to cases that involve controlling and coercive behaviour as well as those involving physical abuse.


Complex challenges ‘Training will be very important,’ says Genevieve, ‘and the College of Policing has already started that process. But resources are scarce and the challenges are complex. We’re talking about situations where scraps of evidence may need to be gathered over a long period of time, and where victims may be reluctant to come forward. What’s needed is a considered and multi-faceted response.’ The next step is for the paper to be


Genevieve credits her stint at Westminster with broadening her horizons and increasing her confidence in her research skills


body-worn video cameras, enabling police to record interactions during incidents – particularly useful in domestic abuse cases where rates of victim retraction are high. Offender-focused approaches include a


project currently being trialled in Hampshire, which compares the effectiveness of two conditional cautions that impose certain requirements on offenders. In both cases, the caution requires the offender to avoid re-offending for at least four months, but one group is also required to attend an awareness-raising course designed to help them better understand their own behaviour and set appropriate goals. Elsewhere, perpetrator programmes


involve offenders attending one-to-one or group sessions, either voluntarily or mandated by the courts. Now the challenge


circulated to MPs and peers who belong to the all-party parliamentary group on domestic and sexual violence, or who have spoken about the topic in a debate. Genevieve is also involved in planning an event this spring where expert speakers will come to Parliament to share insights with members of the House. For Genevieve herself, it’s been a valuable learning experience. ‘Part of what makes this fellowship scheme so challenging and exciting is that you’re operating outside your usual area of focus,’ she says. ‘My PhD is about supporting child witnesses, so this was essentially a new area for me. It’s expanded my horizons, and given me more confidence in my own research skills. It’s also been brilliant to find out more about how we as scientists interact with Parliament, and the role of research in influencing policy- making in the real world.’


lsbu.ac.uk/alumni | South Bank_11


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