THE OFFICE of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) has secured funding for a project tackling domestic abuse.
The OPCC has now launched The Drive Project in Thames Valley, a flagship scheme aimed at intervention for high-risk, high-harm, and serial perpetrators of domestic abuse.
The project has been rolled out across Thames Valley, with launch events set to take place in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire.
It sees intervention from multiple agencies alongside the Drive Partnership, which is made up of the Respect, SafeLives, and Social Finance organisations.
They work alongside police, regional authorities, and social care practitioners, with services delivered by Cranstoun in Thames Valley.
Referrals are made either by the police or through their partner agencies, such as social care services.
The OPCC applied for funding from the Home Office Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund, with support from the Drive Partnership.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “I am pleased to see the Drive Project operating across the Thames Valley and the positive engagement from partners in its delivery.
“Prevention plays an important part in tackling crime, including domestic abuse.
“The Drive Project is centred on increasing the safety and freedom of victim-survivors by targeting the underlying causes of domestic abuse to reduce the number of new and repeat victims. By addressing the behaviour of those who cause harm, we can break the cycle of domestic abuse and improve outcomes for child and adult victim-survivors of abuse across the Thames Valley.
“The Drive Project has proven to be successful across its service delivery areas, and I look forward to seeing its impact here over the coming year.”
Maria Cripps, Assistant Director of Domestic Abuse Services at Cranstoun, said: “Cranstoun is excited to be delivering the Thames Valley Drive Project programme, and we look forward to evidencing its success alongside our other Drive Project sites across the country.
“The Drive Project ensures increased safety for victim-survivors and children through innovative practices in holding perpetrators to account, and we are pleased to be expanding this service to the Thames Valley.”
Detective Inspector David Woodhouse of Thames Valley Police said: “As part of our ongoing commitment to tackling domestic abuse across the Thames Valley we are delighted to be delivering the Drive intervention with the support of key partners.
“This programme will support our robust approach to the investigation of Domestic Abuse; working with those causing harm and challenging them to change, disrupting abusive behaviour and enhancing protection for victims and survivors.”
More information about The Drive Project is available via: thedriveproject.co.uk
