County-side crackdown on domestic abuse launched - The Worcester Observer

County-side crackdown on domestic abuse launched

Worcester Editorial 10th Dec, 2018   0

A NEW approach to tackling domestic abuse has been launched across Worcestershire.

Drive is aimed at challenging the perpetrators of domestic abuse to ultimately reduce the number of victims.

The initiative comes on the back of new figures which show that nationally two women a week die as a result of domestic homicide and 100,000 people are at high risk of being murdered or seriously harmed every year while fewer than one per cent of perpetrators receive a specialist intervention to change.

The new multi-agency project aims to hold perpetrators of domestic abuse to account to keep victims and children safe.




Historically, the response to domestic abuse in the UK has always focused on expecting the victim to leave and start a new life in a new community, causing major disruption and taking them away from their support network of family and friends.

Often the perpetrator is left to continue their life as normal and frequently repeats the same behaviour with new partners, creating more victims.


The new approach, recognises that while providing an extensive system of support for victims and their children is essential, on its own it will not stop domestic abuse.

The goals of Drive are to reduce the number of repeat and new victims, reduce the harm caused to victims and children and reduce the number of serial perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Worcestershire County Councillor John Smith, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “I’m delighted to be part of the Drive launch here in Worcestershire.

“I’m proud that Worcestershire is leading the way in protecting victims of domestic abuse and for the first time, tackling the real cause of the abuse which is the perpetrators.”

West Mercia PCC John Campion said: “Whilst there is some incredible support out there for victims, there is a glaring hole around working with perpetrators. If we’re ever going to reduce the number and severity of incidences of domestic abuse, we need target the source and get to the root of the problem.”

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