Intimate partner homicide: Risk constellations in separation conflicts and points of intervention for the police

Abstract

The escalation of conflicts in intimate relationships to potentially fatal partner violence poses a massive safety risk for victims involved. In addition, separations represent a particularly vulnerable phase for the dynamics of violent escalation. Based on an analysis of court records of three cases of attempted or completed homicides in the course of intimate partner separation in Germany, we outline the conditions under which the separation process is to be assessed by the police as a high-risk phase for the escalation of violence. The study's findings suggest that police work would be more effective if measures were implemented to focus on the overall history of violence rather than on isolated cases, and if these measures were aimed directly at the perpetrators. Moreover, inter-institutional cooperation would support the police in identifying perpetrators at an early stage and carrying out valid risk assessments, rather than working in isolation. The study presents starting points and options for police prevention measures.