Different perceptions and experiences of the duty of confidentiality, the right to provide information, and mandatory reporting may pose significant challenges. MANREPORT-IPV is a cross-professional study examining service providers’ mandatory reporting of intimate partner violence (IPV).

IPV is a serious public health problem, even in Norway. Evidence reveals that in majority of intimate partner homicides, the perpetrator or the victim has been in contact with service providers previous to the homicide. This finding indicates a potential for prevention.

Service providers, including police and health personnel, have a duty of confidentiality. People expect confidentiality and not the forwarding of personal information, unless a consent has been given.

However, service providers may have a duty of mandatory reporting when receiving information with potential to prevent serious criminal acts. The threshold is if it appears certain or most likely to the service provider that such an act will be committed. The duty to avert such a serious crime applies regardless of any duty of confidentiality.

There are strong feelings and opinions regarding mandatory reporting of IPV. However, the empirical knowledge is scarce. The aim of this study is to investigate what experiences, awareness, and attitudes do professionals and IPV help-seekers have concerning mandatory reporting of IPV.

Throughout this study, we will examine the prevalence of information about mandatory reporting or the lack thereof in judgments and other juridical sources. We will analyse service providers’ experiences with and attitudes to mandatory reporting, and seek to clarify the content of the law, e.g. the threshold for mandatory reporting. In addition, we will analyse and compare data from doctors, nurses, domestic violence shelter workers, child protective services, psychologists, and the police. Similarly, we will collect and analyse data from IPV perpetrators and victims.