Questions over true scale of honour-based abuse as Suffolk cases drop
While Suffolk has reported fewer honour-based abuse cases, experts warn the decrease might mask a concerning trend of under-reporting and misclassification of these serious crimes.
Why it matters: The drop in reported cases comes as national charity Karma Nirvana reveals a 13% rise in calls to their helpline, raising questions about whether victims are getting the support they need.
By the numbers:
- 20 honour-based abuse offences recorded in Suffolk last year
- Down from 27 cases the previous year
- National figures show 2,755 cases across England and Wales
- Karma Nirvana handled 2,962 cases in the same period
Behind the decline: Experts point to a new police assessment tool as a potential factor in the decreased numbers. The Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment (DARA) tool, which replaced the DASH assessment system, lacks specific questions to help officers identify honour-based abuse cases, according to experts.
"This discrepancy suggests possible under-reporting or misclassification by police, rather than a genuine reduction in HBA incidents," says Karma Nirvana in their analysis of the 2024 Home Office data.
The bigger picture: His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services highlighted significant deficiencies in how police handle these cases back in 2015. Nearly a decade later, forces still struggle with standardised definitions, insufficient training, and gaps in data collection.
What is honour-based abuse?: It involves crimes or incidents committed to protect or defend the "honour" of a family or community. This can include forced marriage, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and threats to kill.
What's being called for: Karma Nirvana is pushing for:
- A statutory definition of honour-based abuse
- Expanded data collection including age, gender, and familial context
- Mandatory specialised training for police and frontline workers
- Changes to risk assessment tools to include HBA-specific screening questions
The bottom line: While Suffolk's numbers show a decline, experts warn this may not reflect reality. The gap between police figures and helpline data suggests many victims could be falling through the cracks.
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