Safe Newcastle Domestic Violence Strategy - Newcastle City Council

Emerging Work with Perpetrators
The National Probation Service Northumbria
delivers an accredited court mandated
programme throughout the whole of the
Northumbria area. The Community Domestic
Violence Programme (CDVP) is a community
based integrated offender management and
group work programme designed to reduce reoffending
by adult male domestic abuse
offenders, the victims of whom are women.
(A similar programme – Healthy Relationships –
is run in custody by the prison service).
The principle goal of CDVP is to eliminate
violence and abuse toward female partners
through a process designed to change attitudes
and behaviours. It directly promotes and requires
interagency working with both statutory and non
statutory organisations. The safety of women
and children is central and in particular Women
Safety Workers ( currently through a partnership
with Victim Support) work with the known victims
at regular intervals.The number of visits required
is detailed in the programme manuals and
subject to audit. Key to the whole process is
a robust system of risk assessment and risk
management. The programme is reviewed on a
regular basis by the Correctional Services Panel
and changes can be agreed where appropriate.
The programme is based on a sound theoretical
underpinning combined with the principles of
what we know to be effective practice. In
Canada, where the programme was devised,
there is evidence of successful outcomes but it is
too early to undertake research in this country at
the moment. Data is collected on a regular basis
by the National Probation Directorate to inform
this research. This will look at attitude change,
risk management and victim safety – a far wider
brief than numbers of attendees/completers.
CDVP was introduced in Northumbria last August
– the first groups completed in January with 14
completions. The target area wide for 2006/7,
set by the Directorate, is 54 completions.
Currently in Newcastle work with men who are
perpetrators of domestic violence is restricted
within the realms of the criminal justice system.
Given that an evidence base continues to
demonstrate domestic violence is extensively
under reported, this represents a situation whereby
vast numbers of perpetrators receive little
intervention that both challenges and changes
behaviour. Furthermore, domestic violence is a
problem that will not disappear without persistent
and positive action; working with victims is only
one part of this process. If we are to robustly
tackle this issue we need also to work with
perpetrators of violence within the home.
The provision of non-court mandated
programmes are therefore considered to be an
essential component of any strategy that seeks
to safeguard women and their children and
reduce both levels and impact of domestic
violence. Work is therefore being developed via
the Newcastle Domestic Violence and Abuse
Partnership to implement Newcastle’s first
comprehensive domestic violence service that
will deliver effective group work programmes
that challenge abuse by men.
Newcastle Domestic Violence And Abuse Strategy 2