Police and Social Services’ Response To Intimate Partner Violence in Rural and Remote Areas in Sweden

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of social workers and police officers in terms of risk management and inter- and intra-agency collaboration in cases of intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural and remote areas in Sweden. Method Adopting an exploratory qualitative research design, 13 semi-structured focus group interviews with 38 social workers and six police officers from six rural and remote regions were conducted. Data were analyzed using thematic analyses. Results In relation to our informants’ work with risk management responses, two themes were identified related to barriers and possibilities. In terms of collaboration, two themes were identified in the data: barriers to inter- and intra-agency collaboration, and facilitators of inter- and intra-agency collaboration. Overall, the results of this study correspond to previous research. However, novel findings related to possibilities with risk management responses and collaboration specific to a rural and remote context. Conclusions The results of this study are discussed in terms of policy and practical implications for social workers and police officers in general and in relation to the unique context of rural and remote areas. As such, there is an incongruence between current urban-centric policies of IPV prevention and the specific structural and cultural characteristics of sparsely populated areas.