Unveiling the Lived Experiences of Police Officers in Dealing with Violence against Women and Children

This study explored the lived experiences of female police officers in handling Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) cases, highlighting their emotional and professional challenges and the coping strategies they employ. Through in-depth interviews with five officers from the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD), the study identified themes such as the emotional struggles in addressing violence cases, demonstrating empathy and establishing trust with victims, contributions of female officers in victim support, overcoming difficulties in managing complex cases, and adopting coping mechanisms to manage emotional stress. While empathy enhances victim support, it also contributes to emotional strain, particularly in cases involving male perpetrators. Female officers play a vital role in fostering trust, supported by trauma-informed and gender-sensitive training. However, challenges such as victims’ loyalty conflicts and fear of retaliation emphasize the need for emotional resilience. Officers manage stress through family support, professional techniques like compartmentalizing emotions, and self-care practices such as mindfulness and physical exercise. The study recommends enhancing emotional support, training programs, peer networks, victim-centered protocols, and promoting work-life balance and self-care to better equip female officers in managing the complexities of VAWC cases effectively.