New Project CARA website to support police response to domestic abuse

The evidence-based intervention programme aims to prevent further abusive behaviour by raising awareness of the impact on victims through a series of workshops.

Hampton Trust says its new website dedicated to Project CARA (Cautioning and Relationship Abuse) aims to “facilitate interest from police forces across the country”.

The domestic abuse charity already delivers CARA across eight police regions, and has also partnered with Restorative Solutions to deliver the intervention in North Yorkshire using the CARA replication model.

An Impact Evaluation and Economic Benefits study undertaken by the University of Birmingham in 2021 found that reoffending was reduced by 81 per cent within the first six months and by 56 per cent within the first 12 months after participating in the CARA programme. For every £1 invested in CARA, police forces saved £2.75.

Further evidence from Hampshire Constabulary in 2021, which first trialled the initiative in 2013, showed a 76 per cent reduction of future offending in general and an 81 per cent reduction of future domestic abuse offending.

“With the launch of the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund by the Home Office earlier this year, police and crime commissioners (PCCs) can bid for additional funding to increase the availability of domestic abuse perpetrator intervention schemes in their area,” said Hampton Trust. “Under the new two-tier policing framework coming into effect in April this year, CARA can be used as an early intervention for domestic abuse offenders receiving a diversionary caution.”

The programme is delivered in close partnership with the police through workshops for domestic abuse perpetrators receiving a conditional caution.

The aim of the workshops is to increase self-awareness and the motivation to address behaviours and make changes. It supports offenders in understanding what domestic abuse is, the harm their actions have caused, the impact this has had on their partners, children and relationships, and how to make different choices going forward and prevent these harmful behaviours from becoming more entrenched. The workshops offer support relevant to the needs of the participants and signpost to further specialist help.

As an improved criminal justice response for victims, Hampton Trust says CARA ensures the perpetrator intervention is safe for the victim by providing contact and clear guidance.

Chantal Hughes, chief executive officer of the Hampton Trust, said: “With the new framework coming into effect soon, we have seen increased interest from police forces in CARA.

“Our dedicated website now provides all the information in one place – what it is, how it works, and how it can be delivered using our new CARA replication model. The team are ready to support police forces and PCCs in drafting funding proposals using our experience and expertise, and deliver this intervention in their area.”

The website can be accessed at https://projectcara.org.uk