Exploring detectives’ emotional and psychological experiences in interactions with families in intimate femicide cases

Abstract

Intimate femicide remains one of the most urgent and devastating forms of gender-based violence in South Africa. While existing research has centred on the prevalence and legal responses to such cases, less attention has been given to the emotional and psychological experiences of detectives who must engage with both the investigative process and the interaction with bereaved families. This study explores the emotional and psychological experiences of detectives’ interactions with families in intimate femicide cases. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight South African Police Service detectives from Gauteng province. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was utilised to explore the emotional and psychological impact of such work, focusing on death notifications and ongoing family interactions. Analysis revealed three interlinked findings: (1) detectives as first witnesses to families’ shock, disbelief, and embodied grief; (2) the emotional labour, cumulative strain, and personal identity spillover arising from repeated exposure to trauma; and (3) the challenges of managing death notifications in the context of training gaps, procedural frictions, and high family expectations. The study contributes to psychological literature on trauma-exposed occupations and emphasises the need for trauma-informed policing practices that address both interpersonal engagement and officer mental health.