Domestic abuse programme cuts reoffending - police

Domestic abuse offenders have been helped to change their behaviour through counselling sessions, police said.

Suffolk Police said out of more than 40 people who have attended sessions, which began in 2021, 80% have not reoffended.

As part of the six-month voluntary programme offenders must take part in a minimum of 20 one-to-one sessions with a behavioural change caseworker.

Callum from west Suffolk, who has been through the course, said: "The best bit of advice I had was just 'stop', there's nothing wrong in giving yourself a timeout."

The programme, run by Suffolk Police's Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Unit (DAPU), is funded by the government and Tim Passmore, the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner.

Callum was offered the course after being arrested following an incident with his partner.

He told the BBC his behaviour was never physically violent but had been "shutting someone down, belittling someone, those kind of behaviours that build up".

Callum said the course had taught him "empathy and having that understanding about how other people are feeling".

David Wattley is a case worker at the DAPU in Suffolk, and said the programme was about putting responsibility for change on abusers.

He said: "It's always been the onus of the victim or the survivor to make changes, to leave or flee their house, keep themselves safe, make reports to the police.

"We're trying to take that accountability and put that back on the person that's causing the harmful behaviour."

Passmore, said: "Looking after vulnerable people - especially the victims of domestic abuse and violence - is a top priority for the constabulary."

He said the DAPU was "making a real difference by helping perpetrators of this terrible crime recognise the awful effect it has on others and change their ways for the better.

"Many victims of abuse say they want the person abusing them to get help to change their behaviour and we need to listen to victims and take action, which is what we are doing here," he added.

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