High-risk domestic abuse offenders are being targeted and their victims protected through a new multi-agency project in Cumbria.
The Drive Project sees Cumbria police, Victim Support and other agencies implement new processes to focus on people persistently carrying out abuse and those behind the most harmful cases.
The process has been in place for a number of months but was officially launched with an event at Rheged near Penrith earlier this month.
The conference heard from experts working in the field and people who had lived through domestic abuse. It was opened by Assistant Chief Constable Dave Stalker.
Detective Sergeant Cheryl Skelton said: “The Drive Project in Cumbria is a police led, multi-agency process tackling Cumbria’s highest risk, repeat domestic abuse perpetrators.
“It is a national way of working aiming to end domestic abuse and protect victim-survivors.
“It does this by disrupting, challenging and, importantly, changing the behaviour of perpetrators who cause so much harm to their victims and the wider community.
“The event at Rheged was a good opportunity for everybody to hear about the process and the work in general to stop domestic abuse and help those affected by it.”
Drive is being expanded across England and Wales to form an integral part of the Government’s strategy to reduce violence against women and girls by 50 per cent in 10 years.
The project combines intensive one-to-one case management to challenge and change perpetrator behaviour with a coordinated multi-agency response. This can include approaches that seek to disrupt opportunities for abuse to happen.
All work with perpetrators is underpinned by the main aim of increasing both the immediate and long-term safety of adult and child victim-survivors.
The Drive Project is funded by the Home Office through the Cumbria Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner with £714,751 overall. This includes £188,980 being invested in 2025/2026 and £525,771 in 2026/27.
Cumbria was one of 15 new areas across the UK to launch the programme this year.
Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen said: “Victims are at the heart of everything we do so we must continue to protect those who have experienced domestic abuse. We also need to work with high-risk, regular offenders to end the behaviour to reduce future abuse.
“Short-term results will not keep our communities safe long-term, so we need to work together for to make sure we can change behaviours and views to ensure current and future generations are safe from harm.
“I would urge anyone experiencing abuse to contact police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. However, I understand that this isn’t the best option for everyone which is why I commission Victim Support Cumbria.
“Victim Support Cumbria provide tailored support to victims of crime to help them cope and recover from trauma. If you need help but do not wish to report it to police, you can contact Victim Support.”
Victim Support can be called on 08 08 16 89 111 or via its website at www.victimsupport.org.uk/cumbria
