The government has announced it will commit up to £18 million per year over two years towards the next phase of the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund, totalling £36 million.
Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will be given funding to increase the availability of domestic abuse perpetrator intervention schemes in their areas, such as behaviour change programmes, that aim to improve victim safety and reduce the risk posed by abusers. This follows over £41 million of investment for PCCs since 2020.
Previous iterations of the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund have funded schemes such as the Drive Project, which works with high harm and serial perpetrators to prevent them from abusing again.
The Home Office said recent evaluation from the Drive Project has shown that participation from dangerous perpetrators resulted in a reduction in abuse and risk amongst users of the service, with 82% fewer perpetrators using physical abuse.
“I am fully committed to tackling domestic abuse and protecting victims from suffering the lasting impacts of these horrific crimes,” said Minister for Safeguarding Sarah Dines, adding:
“Our vital Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund allows police forces to intervene early, and work with perpetrators to change their behaviour and reduce the risk they pose, in order to protect victims.”
As well as this, the Home Office also published seven standards giving commissioners new guidance on how to effectively intervene with perpetrators, whilst also ensuring the safety and welfare of victims remains paramount.
They said the standards outline the need for interventions to be conducted at the right time and by highly skilled staff as well as outlining the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. They also highlight that the priority outcomes for such interventions should be enhanced safety and freedom for victims and survivors.
