A new Tess-wide strategy to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) has been launched by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The 10-year Tackling Domestic Abuse Perpetration Strategy – co-produced by partners across Cleveland – aims to identify perpetrators earlier and address behaviours that enable domestic abuse to happen.
It also reinforces the message that causing harm is wholly the responsibility of the perpetrator – who will be held accountable for their actions.
Backed by Micala Trussler
PCC Matt Storey held a launch event on Thursday, April 3rd, where partners carried out a co-design workshop to inform the development of a yearly delivery plan.
The strategy is also backed by Micala Trussler – the mother of murdered schoolgirl Holly Newton.
Holly was stabbed to death by jealous ex-boyfriend, Logan MacPhail, in January 2023.
Her family have created the charity Holly’s Hope, which aims to educate young people about healthy relationships.
They have also called for Holly’s Law, which would see the age someone can be classed as a victim of domestic abuse lowered to under 16. Holly was 15 when she was tragically killed.
Speaking at the launch, Mrs Trussler stressed the importance of looking at the behaviours of perpetrators and what might be causing them to act in such violent ways.
She added that “red flags” were missed around MacPhail’s controlling behaviours, which were not recognised until it was too late.
In March, Cleveland was chosen as one of a handful of pilot areas for Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPNs) and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs).
The new Perpetration Strategy outlines the strategic commitment of partners to coordinate around tackling perpetrators and to collaborate with communities to tackle the attitudes that enables VAWG to continue.
Multi-agency strategy
Commitment to a multi-agency strategy that engages communities has been agreed between the PCC, Cleveland Police and leaders of the four local authorities across Cleveland.
The Tackling Domestic Abuse Perpetration Strategy identifies three key priorities:
Prevent – by identifying, responding and referring concerns at the earliest opportunity;
Protect – by identifying perpetrators and holding abuse behaviour to account;
Pursue – by using protective measures to disrupt and prosecute perpetrators.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said: “I want to be absolutely clear that tackling violence against women and girls is tremendously important to me.
“We will strike a balance between prevention, supporting victim-survivors and ensuring strong enforcement and accountability for the worst offenders.”
“The work carried out at the launch of the Perpetration Strategy and in the coming years can bring about a real culture change in society and in the way people behave towards each other.
“Through education and community engagement we can bring people together, support each other and leave no-one behind, as we foster greater compassion and empathy through all of our communities and put an end to the epidemic of domestic abuse in our towns.”
The Tackling Domestic Abuse Perpetration Strategy 2025-2035 can be downloaded here