Domestic violence programme extended to Herefordshire asks offenders "why didn't you stop?"
'Drive' is shifting the focus from victims onto perpetrators
A domestic violence programme run by West Mercia's Police and Crime Commissioner is being extended to Herefordshire.
'Drive' hopes to make victims and survivors safer and shift the focus onto perpetrators.
The programme works to change the narrative in domestic abuse so, instead of asking of the victim ‘why did you stay?’, the onus is placed on the perpetrator and the question asked is ‘why didn’t you stop?’.
But questions have been raised by a domestic abuse survivor from Worcestershire who says more work needs to be done to encourage offenders they have a problem.
Jennifer Cole said:
"So many perpetrators don't admit they have a problem because they portray themselves as the victim.
"It's so deep-seated in their mind and in their behaviour that they just cannot see that they are the problem.
"Attitudes need to change as well for programmes like these to work.
"When I first started opening up to people I was quite often met with shock - "but you're a really strong person how did that happen to you?"
"There's so little understanding and I think that needs to get better. We need to have better knowledge, better training as well as better publicity and awareness of how victims rea truly impacted".
PCC John Campion secured £178,000 funding from Government to set up the programme in Herefordshire for 2020/21.
The area of Herefordshire was chosen as it was the largest area of demand outside of Worcestershire, which has been running the programme since 2018.
PCC John Campion said:
“Putting victims and survivors first is something I will continue to strive for, which is why extending Drive into another part of West Mercia to tackle domestic abuse is so important.
There needs to be this shift in focus towards those that are committing the abuse. If we’re ever going to reduce the number, and severity, of domestic abuse incidences then we need to target the source and get to the root problem.
“The further this programme spreads across West Mercia, the more chance we have of closing in on those who move from one partner to the next inflicting emotional and physical abuse.
"I am pleased that we had the opportunity to get Drive up and running, and I’m very much looking forward to working with the many partners involved to see this become a success.”