Steve EalesImpact Family Services

Why Bother ?

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Some Statistics

• 2 women each week are killed by a partner or former partner in England and Wales

• The overall probability of a woman being murdered have not changed since the 1970’s (Stark,2007)

• Costs £23 Billion per year• 1/3 to ½ of women in refuges will return to an

abusive man, at least for some time (Gondolf,1988)• The majority of abusive men will move onto abuse

another woman (Gondolf,1988)• Nearly three quarters of children on the ‘at risk’ register live

in households where domestic violence occurs

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– 869 DV incidents were recorded– 222 incidents resulted in arrest– 60 individuals were charged– 31 individuals were convicted– 4 convictions were custodial sentences

Hester (2006 - 3 Northumbria Police Commands)

How do we deter perpetrators from re-offending

It makes sense to intervene and attempt to change men’s behaviour

Some men want to change – Some don’t

838 – 96.4% of incidents did not lead to convictions

Just because a man is on a programme doesn’t mean he is going to change

South Tyneside Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme

(STDAPP)

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– The project has only 2 full time workers employed by Barnardo's, a Co-ordinator and Administrator.

– The Practitioners all give an agreed amount of time ranging from ½ day to 2 days per week. This time is given in kind. If the in kind cost was totalled it amounts to an estimated cost of £68,619.

– Our running costs are low because of outstanding multi agency work.

– Highlighted by Hester as a possible way forward for programmes

Steering Group• PCT• GPs’• Police• Childrens Services• Adult Services• Local DV forum• Womens Aid• Local Victim support services• Housing• Voluntary services – Drug and alcohol, Mental health,

contact services and Sure Start• Local Authority• Probation

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Benefits for statutory funders

– Reduction in police callouts and re-offending behaviour

– Possibly reducing the Court’s time by helping offender address his behaviour at an early stage – by offering rehabilitation to the offender through the Programme and as an alternative to prison.

– Better informed decisions for Childrens services and deregistration of children

– Physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing of women and children

– Less need for re-housing of victims

Funding

• Grant giving trusts - Nationwide, lankelly chase, henry smith, northern rock, Noel Buxton trust

• Statutory sector - Police, PCT?, Childrens services, Local authority, Housing

Elements of DA Perpetrator Work

– Increase awareness of physiological, mental and emotional signs of the build-up to violence

– Develop critical awareness of attitudes and beliefs that support the use of violence – gender roles

– Demystify the use of violence – “I just lose it” vs intentional/functional behaviour

– Increase empathy for victims – Increase awareness of effects of DV on children – Widen the definition of abuse, in context of power and

control

STDAPP Core group

Module 1 – Defining, analysing and ending abusive

behaviours

Module 2 - Defining, analysing and ending abusive

behaviours

Module 3 – Effects on children

Module 4 – Respect, trust and support

Module 5 – Sexual respect

Module 6 – Honesty, accountability and partnership

Module 7 – Future conduct

Do Perpetrator Programmes work

D.A. perpetrator programmes have been developing slowly in the UK since the late 1980’s and there is still much to learn about what works

Some authors highlight that there is little difference in recidivism for men who attend programmes (Stark 2007). Whilst other research shows that men make significant changes to their behaviour Dobash and Dobash (2000), Gondolf (2002)

The longer a man is on a programme the more chance there is of stopping physical abuse and reducing the other controlling behaviours

Advantages of an voluntary programme

 • Independent of both courts and probation. So could argue for consequences for non-

participation • Men come to the programme from a range of routes - reduces resentment and sense of

persecution by ‘the system’ • Not driven by institutional targets. For instance ‘completion rates’ • Ability to hold to a position of principle, avoiding government or institutional pressures  • Ability to campaign for safe practice in the work  • Small size of organisation means can respond to change quickly   

Partner support services

• Give accurate information about the perpetrator programme and assist victims in having realistic expectations

  • Safety planning with victims and children •   • Support them in identifying resources they could use to protect

self and children  • Offer emotional support and groupwork to facilitate personal and

social understanding of the abuse

Safety implications of perpetrator programmes for (ex)partners

• They may lie about attendance and suspension

• May use the programme material to criticise his partner’s behaviour

• May lie about what happens in the group

• May use attendance as a bargaining tool

• Attendance influences the decision- making behaviour of others….

  

Anger management, Couples counselling or Mediation

Anger management suggests that the client has difficulty

controlling anger. It is usually a short-term skills-based intervention

In Couples counselling the victim is unlikely to feel free to speak freely and if she does feel free, may be punished later with physical violence or other abuse for speaking out of turn

For Mediation to be in the best interests of the child(and victim) there needs to be a level playing field in mediation session

But in DV: Selectivity of victim Selective level of severity Instrumental, controlling nature of DV Also implicit blame of victim “I just lose it when she winds me up, she pushes my buttons”. Paralysis of victim

Hester and Radford Domestic violence and child contact

Social Policy Research 100 June 1996

Only 7 of the 53 mothers interviewed in England were able - eventually- to arrange contact which did not threaten their own safety and/or their children's well being.

Most mothers initially wanted children to see their fathers; contact arrangements broke down because of violence.

No evidence to support claims made by many of the professionals interviewed that contact broke down because mothers were 'hostile' to the idea of contact  

Many professionals in England interpreted the Children Act 1989 in a way which allowed contact with fathers to take precedence over child welfare.

  Fathers commonly used contact with the children as a

route to further abuse the mother. Domestic violence injunctions and policing practice in both countries gave women only limited protection from further abuse.

Hester and Radford concluded that contact should not be presumed to be in the best interests of the child if there has been domestic violence to the mother