Hampshire 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) was first trialled by Hampshire Constabulary in 2013. Gaining national recognition, CARA has since been adopted by 9 police forces that 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 2 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 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.
Offences were found to have been reduced by 39% in the first 6 months where there had been CARA intervention, and by 41% overall in the first 12 months, with there being no differences found in the severity of offences.
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.
Inspector Debbie Ashthorpe – who led on the project for a number of years – said:
“We really are proud to have been involved in the original trial of the CARA project back in 2013 and to see now with this research that the initiative is still proving vital for people who experience domestic abuse.
“This innovative approach proved to us back then that CARA awareness raising workshops were effective in reducing domestic abuse in first time perpetrators, and we have run CARA workshops in our force area ever since, showing how they can make a real difference to people’s lives. On each case, we work closely with victims and survivors in each case to make sure that CARA is the right option for them.
“We are absolutely committed to reducing the harm caused by domestic abuse and are always seeking ways to improve our response. We’re really pleased to see that this independent analysis of our work, together with the vital services of provided by the Hampton Trust, is reducing reoffending and protecting survivors.”
For support, visit https://www.hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/support-organisations/.
They probably haven’t logged the reports.