Police and Crime Commissioner secures £850,000 to tackle domestic abuse in Hertfordshire

Domestic abuse across the county will be tackled with a new comprehensive programme after the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire secured almost £850,000 in funding.

The award will enable a series of interventions to be put in place including identification of more perpetrators and ensuring victims are supported and safeguarded.

Due to start in September, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) will work with Hertfordshire County Council and partner charities and organisations on several projects.

Following a successful bid by the Commissioner the Home Office have given £599,185, with another £150,000 coming from the OPCC and an additional £100,000 from Hertfordshire County Council.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire David Lloyd said: “In our county domestic abuse was the only crime type to see a rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My office will work with colleagues across the County Council, Hertfordshire Constabulary and the third sector to create a pathway for victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse.

“This will see a range of activities delivered by a number of providers, which will be available to all Hertfordshire residents.

“The services will be easy to access and non-judgemental and aim to provide a gateway to behavioural change."

Detective Chief Superintendent Kay Lancaster, chair of Hertfordshire’s Domestic Abuse Partnership Board, said: “We welcome this funding for projects working with people experiencing domestic abuse in Hertfordshire.

"We expect it to make a hugely positive difference to many people’s lives.

“While we will continue to hold people to account for their actions – there is never any excuse for abuse – these projects will focus on changing people’s behaviour.

"By doing this we can intervene at an earlier stage in order to reduce offending and ultimately prevent the terrible and often long-term damage caused by domestic abuse.”

The funding will support groups during the year-long scheme including Change Plus, which will work with 210 perpetrators and 210 victims to reduce offending with early intervention programmes.

The charity For Baby’s Sake Trust will work with whole families starting in pregnancy to break the cycle of domestic abuse between parents and to give their child the best start in life.

A new data analyst will also be employed to help identify the most harmful domestic abusers and serial perpetrators who may not have previously been highlighted.

Other support services would be provided by the Change Project and Stevenage Borough Council.

At the end of the project, it will be evaluated to consider the sustainability of the programmes and how domestic abuse offending rates have changed.