The OPCC and Cleveland Police are part of a regional Domestic Abuse Whole Systems Approach project.
This contains a series of associated activities. They have been designed to bring about the embedding of a whole system approach and response to domestic abuse. This is across criminal justice domains and through partnerships with multi-agency agencies.
By working across criminal justice systems, it is envisaged that, through improved and transformed knowledge, greater co-working between key agencies, and ensuring systems are designed to be accessible, this will enable early identification and good quality support to victims of domestic abuse, and that this will be supported through correlating interventions that are robust with a longer term impact upon reduced reoffending and reduced repeat victimisation.
The project’s activities include the delivery of a Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme (DAPP).
Reducing re-offending
The DAPP is a behavioural change programmes delivered by specially trained agencies, such as those who manage offenders, or who have gained RESPECT accreditation. The agencies work either on a one-to-one basis, or in groups with perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Trained facilitators lead sessions, and use a programme of theory-based work. This helps to create greater self-awareness with perpetrators and promotes recognition of harm causing behaviours. It also raises awareness of the adverse impact that this has upon victims, children and the broader community.
The sessions help perpetrators to develop strategies for managing their behaviour without resorting to abuse and violence.
Durham Tees Valley Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) propose to deliver a desistance theory-based Creating Relationship Change pilot.
The pilot meets the requirements for a domestic abuse perpetrator programme.
The pilot will work towards reducing re-offending. It is also expected to reduce the harm associated with perpetration of domestic abuse and reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation.
Funding for this initiative is provided by the Home Office Transformation Programme/. It is in line with achieving the activities included in the project delivery plan.
Durham Tees Valley CRC additionally proposed to deliver this programme across both Cleveland and Durham police force areas (with match-funding to be provided by the Durham OPCCV) in order to offer added value to this pilot scheme.
It is intended that delivery of the pilot will make best use of shared arrangement such as the Local Criminal Justice Partnership, and common strategic partners, such as Tees Esk Wear Valley Mental Health Trust.
In addition, if the pilot programme is successful, Durham Tees Valley CRC will look to include delivery of the programme within their ‘Rate Card’ (schedule of programmes the company delivers) in future with no further cost to the OPCCs.
Decision DRF-115934. Funding for domestic abusers (application, 320kB)