Police Officers’ Perceived Role in Mandatory Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence in Norway: A Mixed Methods Study

Several countries require professionals to report intimate partner violence (IPV) to the police. In Norway, this obligation is referred to as a “duty to avert” and permits prevention either through police reporting or ”other means”. The duty applies to all citizens, including police officers who also serve as the primary receivers of mandatory reports. This places the police in a complex, twofold role. This mixed methods study explores how police officers in preventive units perceive the police’s role, responsibilities and routines related to the duty to avert IPV. The study draws on 12 in-depth interviews with police officers and questionnaire responses from N = 374 professionals including police officers across Norway. Findings reveal tensions between investigative and preventive mandates. Officers primarily view themselves as receivers of mandatory reports, and while risk assessment is prioritised, risk management efforts are constrained by organisational structures, resources and reliance on victim and offender cooperation.