Annual Report 22/23 Accessible Version

Home Office Perpetrator Programme (£378,967)

In August 2021, I was successful in securing funding from the HO to implement DA and stalking perpetrator programmes in Kent and Medway. Delivery focused on developing a co-ordinated response to DA and stalking perpetrators, with a focus on managing risk and ensuring victims and their children were safeguarded.

During 2022/23 I was able to secure further funding to develop and embed perpetrator approaches. Delivery continued as a collaborative approach between Interventions Alliance, Kent Police and Look Ahead, alongside the following:

1. Healthy Relationships (HR) Programme for DA Perpetrators - 1 to 1 and group work.
2. Compulsive Obsessive Behavioural Interventions (COBI) - Stalking Perpetrator Programme 1 to 1.
3. Dedicated support to victims and their children.

Outcomes

Since the programme commenced:

a) Over 100 individuals have been referred to the HR Programme or COBI, with 93 sessions delivered during Q4 2022/23.

b) All interventions have been completed on a 1:1 basis providing greater flexibility to respond to needs, vulnerabilities and risks.

c) Of the 29 individuals analysed for re-offending, 16 saw an improvement in offending rates and 7 remained the same.

d) This equates to a 79% success rate in terms of reported offences for the 6 months pre programme compared to 6 months post programme.

e) Over 90 victims have been supported through the dedicated victims’ resource.

Cookham Wood 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. The service aims for 90% of the young people supported to have increased engagement with services and family and to also have a better understanding of risk and victimisation. 11 of the 12 closures reported an improvement in this area, however, there remains a challenge with young people identifying themselves as victims.

During 2023/24 further work will be undertaken to understand the impact of the service on those young people from Kent supported.

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 money must be spent on projects that support delivery of my Police and Crime Plan priorities.

Total allocated spend in 2022/23 across the 14 CSPs was £548,385, and £838,889 was allocated to other statutory partners or providers.

The projects delivered as a result of this funding generally aligned to the following themes:

1. Preventative and diversionary activities for C&YP.
2. DA projects.
3. Community engagement and awareness raising activities.
4. Crime prevention and reduction activities.
5. Strengthening partnership approaches.