£53m package unveiled to target most dangerous domestic abuse offenders
The Home Secretary has announced a £53 million investment over the next four years to directly target domestic abuse perpetrators.
Those who pose the highest risk will be forced to change their behaviour and stop their offending as more police forces and agencies roll out tactics shown to reduce abuse.
Additional funding is also being made available to Project Vigilant to enable police to step up efforts to prevent predatory behaviour in public spaces and night-time economy venues.
Police record a domestic abuse-related crime every 30 seconds.
The Drive Project has been piloted since 2016 to address the root causes of abuse through intensive one-to-one case management for up to 12 months. This includes using protection orders to keep offenders away from victims, alongside work to address drug misuse and alcohol dependency.
A dedicated independent domestic violence adviser (IDVA) supports the victim in parallel, ensuring their safety and needs are prioritised at every stage.
The results have seen percentages of perpetrators using physical abuse cut by 82 per cent, sexual abuse by 88 per cent, stalking behaviours by 75 per cent and jealous and controlling behaviours by 73 per cent.
The multi-million pound investment will see up to 15 new areas going live by March 2026, with full roll-out across England and Wales to follow.
The Drive Project will be delivered in partnership with police and crime commissioners, police forces, domestic abuse services and the Drive Partnership, a consortium of three organisations – Respect, SafeLives and Social Finance, supported by national training and resources.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The roll out of these new programmes means the relentless pursuit of perpetrators who pose a risk to women and girls whether they operate at home or on the streets – and intervening early to prevent further harm.
“We will take every opportunity to challenge and change dangerous behaviours, intensively monitor and manage perpetrators who pose a risk, and give victims the support they need to take back their lives.”
Project Vigilant, currently being trialled by Thames Valley Police, alongside several other forces across the country, sees specially trained plain-clothed officers patrolling nightlife hotspots to hunt down predatory behaviour, with uniformed officers then stepping in to keep the public safe.
The further funding of £230,000 will enable specialist deployments in three police forces, support the trial of new tools – including sniffer dogs trained to detect drugs commonly used in spiking – and help to gather evidence on how the approach works in different settings.
Detective Superintendent Jon Capps, head of Rape and Sexual Offences and Project Vigilant at Thames Valley Police, said: “We welcome funding which supports vital proactive initiatives to disrupt those who behave in a predatory manner and offend against women and girls.
“Our Project Vigilant officers are specially trained to spot predatory behaviour, intervening and preventing it escalating into an offence.
“This year we have conducted 50 Vigilant deployments across the Thames Valley, all of which highlight our commitment to keep people safe, specifically in the night time economy and increasingly with large public events.
“Our aim is to take a suspect-focused approach, creating safer public spaces and building trust and confidence in our policing response.”
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips said: “Through bold initiatives like the Drive Project and Project Vigilant, we’re going after perpetrators wherever they pose a threat. We are shifting the focus onto those who cause harm, challenging dangerous behaviours and making it clear that the responsibility for ending abuse lies with perpetrators, not those who suffer from it.”
The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales welcomed the Government’s investment in domestic abuse prevention but urged that the forthcoming Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy also delivers long-term funding for support services and a stronger justice system response to all forms of VAWG, including sexual violence.
Baroness Newlove said: “This announcement reflects a welcome and significant long-term investment in prevention and perpetrator programmes. It also highlights the Government’s continued prioritisation of domestic abuse in its forthcoming VAWG Strategy.
“While prevention is important, it is only one part of the puzzle – just as domestic abuse is only one of the many forms of violence women and girls face.
“We know the criminal justice system needs to improve if victims are to feel safe and supported when they come forward. Specialist support services are vital to this effort -without them, far fewer perpetrators would be held to account.
“I hope today’s announcement signals a broader and welcome shift towards long-term, sustainable government funding – not only for prevention, but also for the vital services that victims of all forms of violence, including sexual violence, depend on.”