More than £786k of Home Office funding has been secured to address the behaviour of perpetrators of domestic abuse and stalking across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston submitted a successful partnership bid to the Home Office’s Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund 2023-25 - securing a total of £786,138 over the next two years. 

The Fund is aimed at reducing the risk posed by domestic abuse perpetrators and uncovering and addressing the reasons why they offend to increase the safety and protection of victims and their families in future. 

Locally, the funding will be invested in a series of multi-agency arrangements to reduce the risk posed by domestic abuse and stalking perpetrators across the county. 

Provision will include the creation of a domestic abuse perpetrator panel co-ordinator role to support the multi-agency management of high-risk perpetrators, a dedicated stalking police officer and practical security improvements for victims including dash cams and Ring doorbells. 

Victims will also benefit from two new IDVAs (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors) – one to be co-located with the force’s out of court disposal team and a second stalking IDVA for the county to deliver victim engagement and safety planning. 

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Preston said: “I am delighted to have secured this substantial extra funding which allows us to expand the support we provide to victims and step up our specialist intervention with perpetrators. 

“Protecting victims of crime and their families is a key priority in my police and crime plan and I am determined to take resolute action that prevents persistent offenders from inflicting further harm in the future.  

“The trauma of these horrific crimes can last a lifetime and it’s imperative we maximise the expertise and resources of our partners to solve these problems together.” 

The delivery partners include Cambridgeshire Constabulary, The Probation Service, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust, Local Authority Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Partnership, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, The Hampton Trust and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

Through the project, partners aim to reduce the frequency and gravity of abuse, reduce the risk caused by the perpetrator, improve safety and feelings of safety for victims and their families and reduce police demand.