HBA cases in Cheshire reflect findings of new Savera UK research

Savera UK, the charity working to end ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices including female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and conversion ‘therapy’ in Cheshire has revealed its work in the county reflects findings its latest academic research with the University of Liverpool.

‘Honour’ and Its Upholders: Perpetrator Types in ‘Honour’-Based Abuse, which examines perpetrator types in HBA cases, was published last month by Routledge in the Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice. 

The new research investigated if various HBA characteristics correlated with different types of perpetrator-survivor relationships. Using the same data set from a previous descriptive study (Ridley et al 2022), it identified three perpetrator subtypes: Intimate partner only, family only and intimate partner and family and examined patterns in perpetrator gender, risk factors and abuse characteristics.

Savera UK Direct Intervention Team Coordinator, Merfat Musleh, said: “Understanding different types of perpetrators and their motivations, as well as risk factors and abuse characteristics, is vital for professionals, which is why this research is so important.

“Taking an evidence-based approach can inform and improve both recognition of and response to HBA, as well as ensuring professionals provide the best possible help to survivors and those at risk.

“Many of the findings in the study are reflected in what we are seeing in our work in Cheshire. We have noticed a trend in cases of HBA from the county that are perpetrated by the intimate partner and family subtype identified in our latest research, which falls in line with the fact that there are usually multiple perpetrators within HBA and harmful practices.

“At this stage, all survivors from Cheshire are female and the primary perpetrators have mostly been intimate partners. In those relationships, there are usually children involved and there has therefore been a theme of survivors being involved in the Family Court.

“Alongside our casework and academic research, we have conducted focus groups with survivors who have said that they feel professionals do lack understanding around HBA and harmful practice, something that was also concluded in the research paper. I would urge any professional wishing to improve their understanding of HBA to read our latest research and add it to their toolkit for when working on cases – or suspected cases of – HBA or harmful practices.”

Savera UK works with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire to end HBA and harmful practices in the county. Since the start of the partnership in April 2023, referrals from Cheshire have increased by 400%, highlighting the vital importance of collaborative working with specialist services like Savera UK and improved training and information for frontline professionals.

Read the full paper here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24732850.2024.2390872