Policing Violence Perpetrated By Young Women in Scotland Suzanne Young University of Stirling

Aims of the research Explore police officers’ experiences of young women who use violence. Examine how police officers respond to young women who use violence. Determine whether media claims regarding violent young women are mirrored in police officers’ experiences and perceptions.

The study Semi-structured qualitative interviews 2 Scottish police constabularies Fife Constabulary Division A of Lothian and Borders police 33 front line police officers (police constables and police sergeants) Males and females Work on the beat Varying lengths of service

Where I am now All 33 interviews coded using Nvivo: Definitions of violence Training to deal with violent situations Experiences of violence Perceptions of young women who use violence Responses to young women using violence Breaking down preliminary findings. Thinking about how my findings should be organised.

Summary of key preliminary findings There is a lack of training to assist officers dealing particularly with women being violent. Alcohol plays a major role along with deprivation and mental illness. The change in women’s violence is part of a larger social change. Women’s violence differs from men in that it is seen as a form of humiliation rather than demonstration of strength. Advancements in detecting and recording crime have had an impact on the rise in statistics. Gendered attitudes may still exist but it is difficult to tell whether these impact on arrest decisions.

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