The Home Office has confirmed that up to £18 million worth of funding a year will be committed towards the next phase of the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund.
Funding will be spread over two years, meaning a total of £36 million will be allocated to increase the availability of domestic abuse schemes focusing on perpetrator intervention. Police and crime commissioners will be given the money to run the schemes in their areas, including behaviour change programmes aiming to improve victim safety and reduce the risk that is posed by abuse perpetrators. This brings the total of Home Office spending being given to PCCs in England and Wales to over £41 million since 2020.
Sarah Dines, Minister for Safeguarding, said:
“I am fully committed to tackling domestic abuse and protecting victims from suffering the lasting impacts of these horrific crimes.
“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 protect victims.”
Previously, the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund has allocated funded to schemes such as the Drive Project. That was aiming to working with high harm and serial abuse perpetrators to prevent them from re-offending. Evidence shown from recent evaluations proved that the Drive Project was a success, with participation resulting in a reduction in abuse and risk amongst those taking part in the service.
This week the Home Office also published seven standards, serving to provide guidance to commissioners as they move to commission effective interventions for perpetrators whilst also ensuring that victims’ safety and welfare remains paramount.
The furthering of this plan shows the commitment of the government to tackle domestic abuse by not only providing support to victims, but also actively prioritising intervention for perpetrators. This also comes alongside the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which gave clearer guidance on what constitutes domestic abuse.
