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Home Office Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Interventions Programme (£801,367)
In August 2021, my Commissioning team and I were successful in securing funding from the HO to implement DA and stalking perpetrator programmes in Kent. Delivery was focused on developing a coordinated response to DA and stalking perpetrators, with a focus on managing risk and ensuring the wellbeing and safeguarding of victims and their children. We were successful in securing funding for a further two years enabling the programme to continue until 31 March 2025.
Delivery is a collaborative approach between Interventions Alliance, Kent Police, Look Ahead and Victim Support. It provides the following:
1) Intensive multi-agency case management to coordinate and sequence interventions for perpetrators, their victims, and their children.
2) Early Response to provide targeted motivational, denial and minimisation work to increase engagement with programmes. This is supported by the Challenging Unhealthy Relationships Beliefs and Behaviours Programme (CURBB).
3) Two 1:1 behaviour change interventions; Healthy Relationships (HR) and Compulsive Obsessive Behaviour Interventions (COBI). HR is based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and COBI is based on dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT).
4) Victim Protection and support delivered by a Victim Link Worker (Qualified IDVA) in line with Safelives Standards, a Step-Down Worker, and the Stalking Advocacy Service.
Outcomes
In 2023/24, the programme:
Received 51 referrals and conducted 25 assessments.
17 individuals completed the programme and 3 partially completed it. The reasons for non-completion were assessed resulting in additional training for staff.
A total of 147 victims (plus children) were supported.
The Step-Down Worker provided extended support to victims whose ex-partner/partner withdrew support, and to those who required further assistance with housing, benefits, and budgeting, even after completing the service. As a result, the time spent in service increased from the standard 180 days to an average of 300 days.
Referrals were also made to counselling/therapy sessions and there was positive engagement with the 10-week Phoenix Programme resulting in improvements in self-care and DA awareness.
The Project Mirabel questionnaire indicated a 61% reduction in perpetrator risk for those completing Healthy Relationships and a 44% increase in awareness of attitude and behaviours.
Cookham Wood – Haven Project (£15,000)
Initially this was a tripartite project between the MoJ, the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) and Kent to deliver a through the gate service for young offenders within Cookham Wood to address victimisation. During 2022/23 it became a joint project between MOPAC and Kent, focused on helping staff identify victimisation and how to respond, as well as delivering a through the gate service and mentoring support to assist young people with recognising their needs and helping them move into the community.
Following a commissioning process managed by MOPAC, Open Road was awarded the through the gate service and mentoring support. The service went live in November 2021 and became fully operational in March 2022. It concluded in 2023/24 when a safe exit was managed for those being supported.
Delivery of the project highlighted the challenge of young people being able to identify as victims. Alongside this, they were reluctant to engage in victim support on release, mainly because they had a lot of licence conditions they had to adhere to, so adding more requirements was a barrier.
Outcomes
In 2023/24, of the Kent individuals supported:
40% reported an increase in their wellbeing score, with 60% remaining the same.
80% reported a reduction in violent behaviour.
Crime Reduction Grants
Each year I allocate a portion of my commissioning budget to the Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) and other statutory partners or providers. The funding is provided to support them deliver against the priorities set out in my Making Kent Safer plan.
Total allocated spend for 2023/24 across the 14 CSPs was £558,385, and £828,889 was allocated to other statutory partners or providers such as Kent Youth justice Team, the Kent and Medway Drug and Alcohol Partnerships and Crimestoppers.
The projects delivered as a result of this funding generally aligned to the following themes:
a) Preventative and diversionary activities for C&YP.
b) DA projects.
c) Community engagement and awareness raising activities.
d) Crime prevention and reduction activities.
e) Strengthening partnership approaches.
Examples of the types of projects delivered include:
Gravesham CSP - ‘Aloud to laugh’ delivered by The Gr@nd Project
There were 4 ‘Aloud to laugh’ music/entertainment events held in 2023/24 with 1,540 young people engaged.
The events were held at Blakes Nightclub in Gravesend with music provided by Capital Xtra ‘DJ Teeshow’. Whilst billed as a 'social event', the events provided a useful opportunity to engage with young people about a range of personal safety issues, including hate crime, DA and VAWG. As well as raising awareness, the events helped to build confidence and trust in young people so they feel empowered to report and seek help should they experience issues.
Maidstone CSP ‘Safety in Action’ delivered by Project Salus CIC
Safety in Action’ (SIA) is an interactive multi agency event to which Year 6 children are invited to learn about some of the dangers they may face as they become more independent and prepare for transition to secondary school. The event covers a number of scenarios and aims to support the pupils to become responsible young adults, free from peer pressure and capable of making the right decisions to keep themselves, family, and friends safe.
In 2023-24, SIA was delivered to over 5,000 pupils, with 1,551 year 6 pupils attending the event from Maidstone.
Thanet CSP ‘Knife Crime Programme
This is part of Thanet CSP’s school offer, including Pupil Referral Units, and is run with small groups through to large assemblies. Run in schools throughout Thanet, it aims to increase understanding on the dangers of carrying a knife, the impact of knife crime and build confidence and knowledge as well as empathy and positive decision making.
In 2023/24, 9 schools received the input with over 900 pupils engaged.