It seems government was listening when we – and many other domestic abuse services - told them they needed to invest in holding perpetrators to account. The budget contained the first ever envelope for perpetrator/prevention work. This is a first victory for the Call to Action!
In the budget, the government announced £10 million for “innovative new approaches to preventing domestic abuse” working with Police and Crime Commissioners. We are yet to find out the detail of how the funding will work, who will be eligible to apply and how. As we know more, we will let you know.This announcement seems to respond to just part of the Call to Action, and of course we’re still hoping for an actual Perpetrator Strategy!
This is the beginning of a journey. Wider announcements for domestic abuse were pretty limited in the budget, and many of us who do perpetrator work will be lobbying to ensure that all aspects of the response to domestic abuse including direct support for victims are funded as the government makes its longer term plans in a ‘comprehensive spending review.