Savera UK’s fourth research paper, in partnership with the University of Liverpool, has been published in the Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling.

The research, ‘A Critical Exploration of the Divergence of ‘Honour’-Based Abuse Characteristics Across Geographical Origins’ (Ritchie, Rebecca, Almond, Louise, Qassim, Afrah, McManus, Michelle and Chantler, Khatidja. 2026) aimed to obtain base rate information on survivors’ geographical origin and determine if characteristics of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) are significantly associated with the geographical origin of survivors.

With limited research examining variations in HBA characteristics based on the demographics and geographical origin of survivors, the investigation seeks to fill this void.

The paper used data originally obtained from Savera UK for the 2022 descriptive study ‘HBA: A descriptive study of survivor, perpetrator, and abuse characteristics’ (Ridley et al 2022) and comprised 149 cases in which the geographical origin of the survivor was known, with 29 nationalities identified.

To investigate characteristics based on the geographical origin of survivors, their nationality was grouped into five categories based on their geographical continent: Middle Eastern (31.5%), South Asian (36.9%), African (22.1%), European (8.1%) and Other* (1.3%). 

The analysis found eight significant differences, including ‘language barrier’, which was considerably more prevalent in the Middle Eastern group than in the South Asian group, ‘Perpetrator is a family member’ which was more prevalent in the Middle Eastern and South Asian samples than in the African sample, and ‘threats to remove children’ being more prominent in Middle Eastern and African groups, compared to South Asian survivors.

The European group demonstrated the most distinctive prevalent characteristics compared to other categories, including ‘location risk’, ‘perpetrator history of violence’ and ‘court proceedings’, with the latter in particular suggesting that European survivors have a higher success rate when trying to access justice. Due to the limited sample size for this group, these findings should be viewed with caution but also serve as an argument for further research examining a larger sample size, as HBA in European communities is understudied at present.

Overall, the study demonstrates that not all HBA cases are the same and that characteristics and perpetrators can vary based on place of origin. This finding is important because better understanding of these differences can aid in the identification of future cases, particularly in those cases hidden within ‘traditional’ forms of domestic abuse, where police and frontline practitioners’ preconceived notions about HBA may prevent early intervention, putting survivors at risk.

The results of the study reveal an opportunity to develop a HBA specific risk assessment that would help public bodies and non-profits better identify abuse and support survivors, while professional training utilising this information may also aid better future identification of HBA and increase understanding of this nuanced and complex offence.

Rebecca Ritchie, University of Liverpool teacher and PhD student, said: “Research within this area is crucial given the heterogeneity of HBA cases. This can understandably complicate the identification of HBA. This current study helps to provide evidence for these differences, which not only serves as validation for survivors of HBA but also contributes towards an evidence base for organisations who assist survivors of this form of abuse.”

Professor Louise Almond, University of Liverpool, said: “Through our research partnership with Savera UK, we seek to produce robust evidence that informs policy, practice, and public understanding. This latest paper examines the similarities and differences between geographical origins, providing valuable insights to support the delivery of tailored interventions for survivors of honour-based abuse (HBA)”

Afrah Qassim, Savera UK CEO and Founder, said: “We continue to build on our research with our partners at the University of Liverpool to fill the gaps in knowledge about HBA and harmful practices. Limited data and lack of research in this area is allowing people at risk to slip through the net and perpetrators to abuse with impunity. Greater understanding of the nuances of this type of abuse will increase identification and improve outcomes for survivors.”

Read the full paper here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jip.70018

*Due to its small sample size, the ‘other’ category was removed from analysis.