Colchester chosen for domestic abuse scheme because of 'high numbers of reoffenders'

The Drive Programme, focusing on perpetrators rather than victims, is being piloted in three areas around the country.

Its aim is to change the public reaction to: ‘Why doesn’t she leave?’ to ‘Why doesn’t he stop?’

Colchester was selected for the scheme by charities Respect, Save Lives and Social Finance, alongside South Wales and West Sussex, because of reoffending rates.

It has been revealed the project has opened up to 30 cases since March and is seeing one new offender being referred on each week.

Pam Donnelly, chairman of the Safer Colchester Partnership, said: “This is a project which is run in three significant areas across the country.

“One of them is in Colchester because there are some really concerning issues about the levels of domestic abuse here.

“It is different because it is focused on offenders rather than victims.

“Although we would rather not have the need for the project in Colchester, we do.”

The programme aims to cut the number of repeat victims and the number of new victims, by intervening before serious incidents, and will run initially for one year in the borough.

Its three staff are tasked with identifying “high priority perpetrators” and use a “carrot and stick” approach to change their behaviour.

As part of the project, in which Colchester and Tendring Women’s Refuge plays a role, case workers have one-to-one meetings with perpetrators and focus on mental health issues, housing and employment support.

Organisers say their behaviour will be “challenged” if they remain abusive.

During a meeting of the Colchester crime and disorder committee, Chief Insp Elliott Judge, Colchester district commander, also admitted rising levels of domestic abuse, alongside incidents related to the night time economy and child abuse, has contributed to a rise in violent crime in the borough in the last year.

Kyla Kirkpatrick, director of the Drive programme, said it is too early to measure the results.

She said: “We are focusing on perpetrators to the most at-risk victims and it is going to take a longer period of time to determine whether their behaviour has changed.

“We are trying to get them talking to the police, probation service and other stakeholders.

“This is a pilot scheme being run in three areas and has support from local authorities and the police and crime commissioner which has enabled us to get a bit of funding.”