A PROJECT to work with domestic violence perpetrators in Worcestershire and challenge them to change their behaviour has been given vital funding.

The Drive Project, led by Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion and Worcestershire County Council, has been awarded £250,000 from the Police Transformation Fund.

Project staff will work with the most high-risk offenders and encourage people to start asking why they won’t stop instead of querying why victims don’t leave.

It aims to reduce the number of victims by disrupting offender behaviour and both challenging and supporting perpetrators to change, whilst holding them to account.

It follows the success of the phase one pilot in 2016 and Worcestershire has been identified as the area to deliver the project in first, due to it having the highest number of referrals into the police-led Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC).

Councillor Campion said: “Whilst there is some incredible support out there for victims, there is a glaring hole around working with perpetrators.

“If we’re ever going to reduce the number and severity of incidences of domestic abuse, we need target the source and get to the root of the problem.

“Having learned of how successful the pilot has been in other areas, I am very much looking forward to working together with the Public Health Directorate in Worcestershire County Council to tackle these issues and make it a success in this area too.

“I can only hope that we will then be able to extend the project into the rest of West Mercia.

Councillor John Smith, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner on this programme, with Worcestershire selected as a pilot site for West Mercia.

“This refreshed approach focuses on the prevention of domestic abuse so has Worcestershire County Council's full backing.”

Service providers to deliver Drive are being asked to bid for a tender, which will close at noon on April 27 2018. People can find out more by visiting www.in-tendhost.co.uk/worcestershire/aspx/Home