Burnley and Padiham’s MP Antony Higginbotham has welcomed plans which will see the Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden given an additional £745,000 to support initiatives aimed at stopping abusers from repeatedly targeting victims and terrorising vulnerable people.
The funding, provided by the Home Office, will be allocated to support the implementation of the renowned Drive Project, a highly effective initiative aimed at reducing the number of persistent repeat offenders and minimising the harm caused to victims and their children.
Antony Higginbotham, who has been working with both Government and the Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden to tackle the issue of domestic abuse said:
Domestic abuse should never be tolerated and I’m doing all that I can to put a stop to it.
We’ve strengthened the protections available to victims, are making sure abusers face the full force of the law, and have been providing safe spaces for victims to come forward to report this terrible crime.
Today’s announcement is about going further by giving Lancashire Constabulary funding to do even more to stop abusers in their tracks. And I’m grateful for the support and partnership of the Government and Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden in securing this vital funding. By working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of survivors and prevent further harm.
The Drive Project, has already demonstrated remarkable success in other parts of the country and will be delivered in close partnership with Victim Support and other local services. By pooling resources and expertise, the initiative aims to achieve long-term behaviour change and significantly reduce incidents of domestic abuse across Lancashire.
Independent evaluations conducted by the University of Bristol have shown outstanding outcomes from the Drive Project elsewhere. Service users experienced an 82% reduction in physical abuse, an 88% reduction in sexual abuse, a 75% reduction in harassment and stalking behaviours, and a 73% reduction in jealous and controlling behaviours.
Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden said:
Tackling domestic abuse is a priority for me and the additional funding, secured from the Home Office, will make a real impact here in Lancashire.
The Drive Project focuses on breaking the cycle of abuse by working with the most high-risk, serial perpetrators of domestic abuse with the aim of stopping them from causing harm to those closest to them.
Whilst I want to see perpetrators punished for their actions, it is equally important to address their behaviour so that it isn’t repeated and further harm inflicted on current or future partners.
