PUBLIC AWARENESS, UTILISATION AND SATISFACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIES IN CURBING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been recognized as a social and public health problem that has necessitated agencies' intervention within the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Globally, many nations now respond to the menace of intimate partner violence by engaging the police and special courts' services through the enactment of laws prohibiting acts of physical, sexual, verbal, economic, and psychological violence. In 2014, Lagos State established within its police force the family support unit, which caters to cases of violence within intimate relationships. This move followed poor enforcement of the 2007 Lagos State Domestic Violence bill. Despite these provisions, Lagos State continues to report a high incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV). However, awareness of the mechanisms used by the Criminal Justice System (CJS) to address this violence is important for achieving the desired result. The objectives of the article include the identification of law enforcement strategies used in combating IPV; the awareness of the public on such strategies and the level of satisfaction derived by those who engaged Law enforcement in the report of IPV. Using the purposive sampling technique, 400 survey questionnaires were administered, and 383 were retrieved and analysed using univariate and bivariate procedures. The results revealed that the majority of respondents were aware of the police strategies being utilised, although satisfaction levels varied. The study concluded that challenges hindering the effective use of the police in IPV cases should be addressed, as the public is aware of their strategies. The study recommended that funds be made available, especially to stakeholder agencies, to further sensitise various groups within society.