Promising directions for intimate partner violence prevention: The case of Northern Ireland

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a significant problem in Northern Ireland. Several initiatives have been implemented in recent years to improve preventive efforts. The present article reviews current policy and practice in relation to IPV in Northern Ireland with reference to findings from research conducted with the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI). The research was conducted as part of a European-funded programme, the Collaborative Network for Training and Excellence in Psychotraumatology (CONTEXT), a research consortium dedicated to the study of aspects of psychological trauma across diverse settings. Current challenges in IPV prevention are outlined and new initiatives based on international data are discussed. Key areas of focus include risk assessment, rehabilitation, victim safety measures and the potential of multi-sectoral collaboration for the enhancement of effectiveness across each of these domains.