Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner welcomes funding boost to tackle domestic abuse
Home Office funding will allow the DRIVE programme to expand county-wide, helping reduce repeat offending and support victims and children affected by domestic abuse.
Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw has welcomed new funding from the Home Office to expand a successful programme aimed at tackling domestic abuse across the county.
The DRIVE programme, which currently operates in the north-west of Lancashire, works directly with high-risk domestic abuse offenders to prevent reoffending and protect victims and their children. Since launching in 2023, it has supported over 130 offenders, 150 victims, and 279 children connected to these cases.
“Abuse of any kind is wholly unacceptable and anything we can do to break the cycle of abuse is great news for Lancashire,” said Commissioner Grunshaw.
“The DRIVE programme has already been piloted across the Constabulary's West Division and we are now discussing with the Home Office how we can expand this offer to the rest of the county.
This means less offending, fewer victims and safer homes for children who may otherwise witness or suffer domestic abuse.”
Evaluation of the programme has shown significant reductions in physical and sexual abuse, harassment, stalking, and coercive behaviour.
“Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan for Lancashire and I will continue to invest in programmes and services that tackle offending and support those affected by abuse,” added Grunshaw.
For more information on the DRIVE programme, visit drivepartnership.org.uk. Support services for victims of domestic abuse in Lancashire can be found at victimcarelancashire.org/support-directory/domestic-abuse.