The study was carried out in Eindhoven and consisted of an analysis of the police files, observations of police actions, and interviews. The incidents under study included assaults and threats of physical violence by present or former husbands or lovers. In a period of three months, more than 260 cases of physical violence and related domestic problems were registered; at least five per week involved actual assaults. In all these cases, only 13 arrests were made, and 9 formal statements taken. When the police were called to the scene they were most likely to calm down the two parties, mediate, or do nothing at all. According to the police, there are several reasons for their reluctance to instigate legal actions, for example, the women are unreliable complainants or these cases are often dismissed by the prosecutor. It is commonly believed by the police that violent conflicts are a natural outgrowth of marital relations, and intervention is inappropriate unless there is serious injury. 2 notes