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2019 | OriginalPaper | Buchkapitel

5. Deconstructing Crime Through Language

verfasst von : Rachael Aplin

Erschienen in: Policing UK Honour-Based Abuse Crime

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

This chapter illustrates dissembling through the craft of language in the incident summary write-up, in which some officers construct an alternative “paper” reality that bears little resemblance to HBA victim narratives. Numerous patterned police practices are identified, such as altering the “crime” by removing key words, presenting information in formulaic compressed closed question format, using language to distort and trivialise the report; sin by omission is a prevalent discretionary practice, as 71% of DASH risk assessments contain incomplete or missing data. The “family dispute” theme and the unwillingness of victims in disclosing offences replicate traditional domestic abuse explanations. Such stratagems dilute or entirely negate the risks to victims, stifle legitimate lines of enquiry, decriminalise cases and wrongly justify officers’ no-crime decisions.

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Fußnoten
1
Cases 6, 7, 9, 37, 47, 48, 67, 68, 76, 85, 86, 87, 90, 91 and 99.
 
2
Cases 17, 29, 31, 40, 52, 59, 62, 70, 80 and 98.
 
3
Cases 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 19, 21, 23, 24, 28, 30, 34, 35, 36, 41, 49, 51, 53, 54, 55, 60, 69, 71, 72, 78, 83, 88, 92, 58, 66, 89.
 
4
Cases 12, 15, 25, 61, 63 and 75.
 
5
Cases 16, 46, 56, 65, 73 and 100.
 
6
Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) are where statutory and voluntary agency representatives share information and problem-solve around high-risk victims of domestic abuse in order to produce a coordinated action plan to increase victim safety. Meetings usually take place monthly. At the heart of a MARAC is the working assumption that no single agency or individual can see the complete picture, but all may have insights that are crucial to their safety. The MARAC is not an agency and does not have a case management function. The responsibility to take appropriate actions rests with individual agencies (Safe Lives 2015). In most MARACs the police chair the meeting and take a lead role.
 
7
Cases 21, 34, 58, 66, 69 and 89.
 
8
Cases 5, 34, 35, 37, 60 and 62.
 
9
However, this info was not on the DASH.
 
10
Case 97 was an adult reporting rape as a child. This is excluded from the 22 child cases.
 
11
The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Act 2012 was introduced to include 16- and 17-year-olds within the definition of domestic abuse. This definition came into effect on 31 March 2013 (Home Office 2013).
 
12
Cases 25, 30, 34, 40, 41, 51, 61, 63, 72, 73, 47 and 85.
 
13
Cases 25, 34, 41, 51, 72 and 73.
 
14
Cases 47 and 85.
 
15
Cases 34, 40, 41, 51, 69 and 73.
 
16
Often difficult if the language is rarely spoken in the UK, e.g. Somalian.
 
17
Cases 34, 61, 72, 85.
 
18
Cases 30, 40, 41, 47, 51, 63.
 
19
Cases 25 and 73.
 
20
Cases 34 and 73.
 
21
Cases 25, 61, 63.
 
22
Cases 30, 40, 61, 63.
 
23
A “write-off” means to expedite the case, usually by closing it as no further action (NFA). A “write-up” is a condensed summary of events. Many cases in this study allude to inappropriate write-ups that constitute “write-offs.”
 
24
This is derived from the case of R v. Osman 2000, in which the ECHR ruled that public bodies, such as the police, are under a positive obligation to take preventative operational measures to protect an individual when there is real and immediate risk to life from the criminal acts of others.
 
25
Van Maanen contends that it is “demanded that one [officer] covers for the mistake of another” (1978: 126), yet several cases show that diligent officers resent having to rectify other officers’ investigations and either do it begrudgingly (case 51) or refuse to do it by inaction (case 65/67).
 
26
Cases 73, 19, 67, 24, 77, police officer a.
 
27
Cut and pasted onto the PPI.
 
28
E.g. submit a crime report, DASH risk assessment, obtain interpreter and witness statement, refer case to the fire service for a fire safety risk assessment, code the incident as C59 honour violence crime.
 
29
Cases 34, 40, 41, 51.
 
30
Back-cover is an informal UK term, referred to in the USA as to “cover your ass”. To cover oneself is to foresee and avoid the possibility of criticism. Therefore, back-covering is a precautionary measure to protect oneself against future blame or liability.
 
31
Note: Any missing questions had blank entry responses.
 
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Metadaten
Titel
Deconstructing Crime Through Language
verfasst von
Rachael Aplin
Copyright-Jahr
2019
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18430-8_5

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