Merton has formed a partnership with six other south London boroughs to tackle domestic abuse perpetrators, having successfully secured almost £2million in funding for the project.

Lambeth Council are the lead borough, and the funding will be held by Lambeth Council to commission specialist providers and oversee the project in partnership with Lewisham, Southwark, Kingston, Richmond and Wandsworth.

A new Prevent and Change (PAC) programme designed to tackle domestic abuse across south London will focus on ensuring perpetrators stop their abusive behaviour. The programme also includes specialist support services for associated victims and survivors.

This work addresses a priority aim of Merton’s Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy by developing and commissioning evidence-based perpetrator intervention.

The project, which started in June this year, will see the council collaborate and coordinate more closely with our neighbouring boroughs to tackle domestic violence.

Its delivery partners are Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP), a division of Richmond Fellowship, who have more than 25 years experience in delivering perpetrator programmes and specialist support to families impacted by domestic abuse. 

Refuge will deliver integrated support, working closely with the DVIP and local commissioned services to ensure survivors’ safety is at the heart of our response. 

Cambridge Centre for Evidence-Based Policing will evaluate the model and delivery through the life of the project and continue to build the evidence base on tackling harmful behaviours.

“Merton has prioritised tackling VAWG. With other boroughs, we are taking an inclusive approach by working with a range of key partners, ensuring residents who have experienced VAWG are at the centre of our work.
“This type of collaboration across London, alongside leading national projects and partners, is essential and demonstrates our commitment to the safety of women and girls.”

Through PAC, the project will work one to one with perpetrators in the community, particularly those with multiple needs.

PAC ultimately aims to ensure the whole system is better geared towards managing perpetrators in partnership with communities across south London, to increase the safety and wellbeing of victims and survivors and associated children, and to prevent new and further victimisation and harm.

Across the next two years, the council will enhance its understanding of harmful behaviours within diverse and marginalised groups to offer community-informed responses by the partnership. For more information visit Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund.