Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner has received more than £200,000 funding to help tackle domestic abuse in the county.
Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner has received more than £200,000 funding to help tackle domestic abuse in the county.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, in partnership with Dorset and BCP Council, has successfully bid for the money from the Home Office Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme Fund.
The £200,185 funding will go towards projects that help identify perpetrators and implement strategies to address their behaviour.
It will pay for up 240 front line professionals across the county to receive specialist training in the Up2U Family Practice Model programme. The training enables professionals to identify signs of domestic abuse and start intervening using tried and tested methods.
The funding will also help expand the Up2U Creating Healthy Relationships programme for people who are in relationships involving domestic abuse.
This programme aims to reduce the incidents of domestic abuse, preventing the cycle of abuse and reducing the numbers of children who require care.
It is currently running across Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth but the additional funding will allow it to expand into Christchurch and will also increase the number of people who can be supported through the scheme.
Commenting on the successful funding bid, Councillor May Haines, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety in BCP Council said “BCP Council are delighted to be receiving additional support to improve our work around domestic abuse. We are fully committed to ensuring that all victims of abuse can receive appropriate support and that perpetrators are challenged to change their behaviour. We already have a comprehensive strategy around tackling domestic abuse and this additional funding will complement the work already underway to support victims and tackle perpetrators of abuse, by providing additional training to front-line workers and expanding our existing perpetrator programme.”
Cllr Andrew Parry, Lead Member for Dorset Children’s Services, said “We are delighted the PCC, has secured this significant funding, strengthening how we can all work together to tackle domestic abuse. The impact on our families and children from domestic abuse, including exposure to it within the household, when another person is targeted by the perpetrator, cannot be underestimated.”
David Sidwick, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner said: “I said when I took up office that I was determined to deal with hidden harms such as domestic abuse, and this funding will make a real difference to those people caught up in this destructive crime.
“Sadly, many victims don’t report abuse or ask for help because of the perceived impact on their relationship, and by expanding the Creating Healthy Relationships programme, we can help reduce the risk of perpetrators moving from one victim to another by enabling them to change their behaviour.
“This funding will also help by providing training to help those on the front line spot the signs of domestic abuse, so cases don’t simply continue to go under the radar.”
The funding awarded to Dorset is part of the £11.3 million fund the Home Office announced to deliver domestic abuse interventions across England and Wales.”
