Route 2 (My Sister’s Place) were awarded the contract to provide a Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme (DAPP) by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland (PCC) in June 2018. In March 2021 an Exemption to Standing Orders (ESO) was submitted to, and approved to enable service provision to continue for an additional twelve-month period – up to the end of March 2022.
Extending current funding for an additional twelve-month period will enable services that are experiencing capacity and demands due to COVID’19 from being able to bid for the contract that would limit the competitiveness of the market. More crucially, extending current funding arrangements will result in perpetrators continuing to receive the interventions that challenges, and addresses their offending behaviour and ensure that victims are being protected from abuse post March ’21 without any interruptions in service, with a view to putting the DAPP contract out to open tender for the next financial year.
The DAPP is a coordinated community response model that delivers a behavioural change programme for perpetrators of domestic abuse and domestic violence, which is committed against their partners, including former partners, and/ or family members. The programme challenges these perpetrators to positively engage in the DAPP process, and take accountability for their abusive behaviour, and should not be viewed as an alternative to criminal justice.
Having a DAPP pre-established and operational in Cleveland is essential to tackle the rising rates of domestic abuse, and features in the Police and Crime Plan 2020 – 2021 to both reduce reoffending and safeguard victims. Between November 2018, and November 2020 – the number of recorded domestic abuse incidents in Cleveland increased by 19%. In the same period the number of domestic abuse incidents that resulted in arrests increased by 84%.
Cleveland’s DAPP aims to reduce the reoffending rates of domestic abuse perpetrators, whilst recognising the impact that the offence has on its victims, and provides safeguarding and support to victims of domestic abuse as part of the intervention. Aims of the DAPP also include improving the feelings of safety and satisfaction amongst victims, and reducing the number of repeat victims.
To facilitate behavioural change, and promote an incentive for perpetrators to positively change their lives, Route 2 delivers 1:1 motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural techniques as part of the intervention. Extending funding will allow the service to enhance the service to include therapeutic counselling, consultations and provide training and awareness raising to organisations, including schools, colleges and public health settings.
My Sister’s Place oversees delivery of the programme and has extensive experience of providing services and support to victims of domestic abuse in the Cleveland area, and has attained RESPECT accreditation. This quality assurance certification recognises the high quality of service that Route 2 provides for its work with both perpetrators of domestic abuse, and supporting victims.
Since implementation in 2018 there have been over 180 perpetrators, that have received an intervention from the service, and despite the challenges of the COVID’19 in the past nine month period Route 2 demonstrated its commitment at working with organisations to reduce domestic abuse by attending over 30 separate multi-agency meetings, including MATAC, MARAC, and SDVC.
Decision 2021-00269346 – Route 2 – Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme (application, 210kB)