Northumbria University academic to train police forces on tackling ‘victim-blaming language’
Dr Patricia Canning Pask’s language training has been designed to shift the focus away from victims and onto perpetrators
11:29, 24 Dec 2025
A Northumbria University academic is delivering training to police forces which aims to tackle victim-blaming language during investigations. Dr Patricia Canning Pask, assistant professor in the school of Humanities and Social Sciences, has developed ‘Language Matters’…
Northumbria University academic to train police forces on tackling ‘victim-blaming language’
Dr Patricia Canning Pask’s language training has been designed to shift the focus away from victims and onto perpetrators
11:29, 24 Dec 2025
A Northumbria University academic is delivering training to police forces which aims to tackle victim-blaming language during investigations. Dr Patricia Canning Pask, assistant professor in the school of Humanities and Social Sciences, has developed ‘Language Matters’ training, which has been designed to shift the focus away from victims and onto perpetrators.
Cumbria Constabulary has become the second force in the UK to roll out the method to address language concerns and focus on non-blaming communication. The programme covers all crime types with particular emphasis on domestic abuse and sexual violence, which disproportionately affected women and girls.
Dr Canning Pask said: "How language is used in policing and the wider justice system cannot be underestimated, especially when responding to and investigating domestic abuse. The training has been designed to encourage officers to understand the impact on victims and case outcomes of what they say and how they say it, whether in person, on the phone, or in case file reports.
"Language matters, and by addressing harmful stereotypes and shifting the focus away from victims and on to perpetrators, this training will help build trust and really can make a difference on improving routes to justice for victims and survivors."
Linguist Dr Canning Pask’s research focuses on the investigation and analysis of language used across the UK justice system, including how blame is placed or deflected through individual and institutional language choices. She has published research on alyses of the witness statements following the Hillsborough Disaster and the attribution of blame following the 2022 Paris Champions’ League final.
Her training aims to ensure victims feel supported throughout investigations and that cases are progressed fairly. It was developed by Dr Canning Pask after she worked with South Wales Police on reviewing case files to inform language guidelines for future investigations.
Language Matters has also been delivered to staff across Cheshire Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police service’s media team. Dr Canning Pask added: "It really can be as simple as thinking very carefully before using phrases such a ‘just one slap’.
"The use of the word ‘just’ immediately minimises the offence being investigated and the impact on the victim. Similarly, when describing what might have led up to an incident, using terms such as ‘toxic relationship’ or describing something as an ‘argument’ can instantly share responsibility for what happened between those involved when, clearly, that may not be the case, particularly with a coercive and controlling abuser."
Article continues below
Det Ch Sup David Ashton from Cumbria Constabulary welcomed the training, saying: "Effective communication is fundamental to building trust, and this training will help officers and staff respond with empathy and continued professionalism across all areas of policing."
Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East.
ChronicleLive has created a dedicated WhatsApp community for breaking news and our biggest stories. You can join this WhatsApp community here. It will keep you up-to-date with news as it breaks and our top stories of the day sent directly to your phone.****