Further funding secured to help stop the cycle of Domestic Abuse

Funding of nearly £250,000 has been awarded to organisations in Hampshire to work with the perpetrators of domestic abuse.

The Home Office has allocated £244,492 to the Police and Crime Commissioner, Michael Lane, who will work in partnership with Hampshire Constabulary, local top tier authorities including Portsmouth City Council and domestic abuse service providers.

The funding will be split across three pilot programmes:

• Upskill professionals to identify those who use unhealthy behaviours and abuse in their relationships and to have confidence in delivering a Domestic Abuse (D A) toolkit or referring on to specialist services.  To be delivered by Portsmouth City Council in Portsmouth and Hampton Trust in Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight.
• Repeat Families identification and intervention pilot (Southampton/Eastleigh) – focusing on families with the greatest complexity and risk of harm and who repeatedly go round the system, often with increasing levels of risk and frequency. To be delivered by The Hampton Trust.
•  Perpetrator Risk Prediction Tool – to better identify those perpetrators presenting the highest risk of offending in terms of seriousness and frequency. To be delivered by Hampshire Constabulary.

The Home Office released an opportunity for Police and Crime Commissioners to apply for funding to increase the number of perpetrator-focussed programmes in local areas.

Michael Lane, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Domestic Abuse causes high harm and is too often happening in our area. It is rightly a priority for me in support of our communities to work alongside key partners and agencies to seek to support those who are victims and prevent future incidents through education, including of potential perpetrators and those who are at risk of re-offending.  That is why this additional grant of £244,492 from the Home Office is so valuable and an opportunity to extend the support available in our area.

“This funding complements the additional support announced earlier this year for organisations that support the victims of domestic and sexual abuse. In order to stop the cycle of abuse it is equally important that help is available to address the behaviours of those causing harm as it is to support the victims. Anyone who thinks they are using unsafe behaviours in their relationships should seek help.”

Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety at Portsmouth City Council, said: “In addition to supporting victims of domestic abuse, particularly as the serious impact of COVID-19 continues, supporting individuals who use abusive or unhealthy behaviours in their relationships is a vital part of our work to prevent the cycle of domestic abuse.

“This funding will allow us to work closely with those causing harm by recognising and addressing domestically abusive behaviours and supporting positive change through our domestic services team.”

Chief Superintendent Dave Powell, Hampshire Constabulary’s lead for Domestic Abuse, said: “Tackling domestic abuse and our response to victims remains a priority for Hampshire Constabulary.  It has a devastating effect on people’s lives and causes misery regardless of where it happens, and sadly involves and seriously affects children.  Part of our work in protecting those most vulnerable, is working with support services to reduce re-offending through effective perpetrator intervention.

“We are really pleased to be awarded this additional funding. Working closely with local agencies and universities we will use the funding to trial and rigorously evaluate new initiatives to reduce the harm caused by perpetrators and reduce the devastating impact they can have on their children and their families.”

Information on support available to those experiencing domestic abuse in Portsmouth can be found here.