Basingstoke ObserverHAMPSHIRE Constabulary has been recognised for reducing the reoffending rate of first-time domestic abuse perpetrators by 41% following independent analysis by the University of Birmingham.
Project CARA (Cautioning and Relationship Abuse) sits within the criminal justice system as an early awareness raising intervention. The initiative was first trialled by Hampshire Constabulary in 2013. Gaining national recognition, CARA has since been adopted by nine police forces who have received special dispensation by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to use conditional cautions for domestic abuse as an alternative to simple cautions.
Through engagement in workshops and feedback from victims, the intervention is designed to enable first time offenders to understand what domestic abuse is and the impact and consequences of their behaviour to reduce the possibility of them committing domestic abuse again in the future.
A spokesperson shared: “CARA has only been made possible by the amazing work of Hampton Trust. Hampton Trust is one of our commissioned services and is one of the most respected and innovative UK providers of work in the field of domestic abuse and criminal justice. They pride themselves on rebuilding lives by addressing the root cause of domestic abuse and criminality and we are really lucky to work with them on this project to protect future victims.
Analysing our collaborative work, a team from the University of Birmingham’s Institute for Global Innovation, including researchers from Psychology, Economics, and Nursing, carried out an evaluation of offences committed in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight in 2018/19. Offenders were then tracked over 365 days in 2020/21 following their referral to the CARA programme to assess the level of reoffending rates over the proceeding 12 month period.
In total, 510 offenders were retrospectively assessed, of whom 218 had taken part in the CARA programme, whilst 292 were chosen to form a matched-control group; a group who had not attended the CARA workshops. The aim was to find out how many individuals re-offended, and to evaluate the severity of follow-on crimes.
Offences were found to have been reduced by 39 per cent in the first six months where there had been CARA intervention, and by 41 per cent overall in the first 12 months. There was no differences found in the severity of offences.”
Professor Heather Flowe from the School of Psychology who led the evaluation commented: “The results suggest that the CARA workshops are effective in reducing future domestic abuse harm among low to medium risk first time offenders who admit their crime.
Not only has the project prevented a number of first-time offenders from entering the criminal justice system, it shows it is effective at breaking the cycle of abuse.”
Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner concluded: “Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on the lives of those who experience it. In order to safeguard victims and those vulnerable to harm, it is essential that we work with perpetrators to tackle their behaviour and stop the cycle of abuse. The evaluation of CARA provides further evidence of the importance of investing in services that seek to prevent a continuation or escalation of offending.
I am pleased to be funding Hampton Trust to deliver CARA across the whole of Hampshire and the IOW until at least 2024. In addition, I am proud to be working in partnership with them and the four upper-tier Local Authorities to provide behaviour change programmes for Domestic Abuse perpetrators. This means there is extra help available for any individuals referred to CARA who may benefit from ongoing support.”
