Domestic abuse perpetrator project expands to city

A project which works with perpetrators of domestic abuse to try to prevent further harm has expanded.

Southampton in Hampshire is one of 15 new areas trialling The Drive Project, following a £53m government investment in the scheme.

The programme involves one-to-one counselling sessions with offenders and other interventions such as drug and alcohol therapy.

An evaluation carried out by the University of Bristol in 2019 found it reduced physical abuse by 82%, sexual abuse by 88% and harassment and stalking behaviours by 75%.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has been awarded £500,000 from the government pot.

The money has been allocated to the Hampton Trust charity to work with up to 120 offenders in Southampton over the course of about a year.

PCC Donna Jones said: "I am committed to the pursuit of high-risk perpetrators who pose a risk to women and girls, either at home or on the streets.

"Too often they're not held to account, and their abusive behaviour continues.

"The Drive Project brings together police, probation, adult and children's services, housing, health and other organisations to intervene early to help prevent further harm."

Previously, the government said its investment would protect "thousands more women and children".

However, the funding was criticised by the Rape Crisis charity, which said it would do little to curb overall levels of sexual violence.

The University of Bristol analysis found Drive led to a drop in incidents of abuse to a "greater degree" than in cases where only victims were given help, with improvements sustained for more than 12 months after the scheme ended.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and advice is available here.

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