Domestic abuse programme is extended after research evidence proves it can work

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, has extended funding for a programme to reduce domestic abuse and re-offending.

The CARA programme (Cautioning and Relationship Abuse) provides awareness raising workshops for people who have committed domestic abuse offences. The Police Commissioner has committed to funding the programme for up to three years at £125K per year.

PCC Donna Jones said:

“Out of Court Resolutions – like CARA - provide life-changing and meaningful support. They address the root causes of behaviour; offenders are held accountable for their actions and victims are heard. It’s also important that for first time offenders that there is an effective barrier in place before offending escalates.”

Project CARA was developed in 2011 by Hampton Trust as a conditional caution offered by the police to first time adult offenders of domestic abuse. An initial trial of CARA was undertaken in Southampton showed a reduction in the frequency of re-arrest and likelihood of domestic abuse a year after the initial offence.

CARA is now being extended across the UK and delivered by Hampton Trust. Researchers based at the University of Southampton are evaluating CARA across police forces funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex).

NIHR ARC Wessex works in collaboration across different organisations and sections of society to try to improve the lives of people. Its research partnerships are spread across not just Wessex but England and internationally.

Its Chief Executive is Chantal Hughes:

“For nearly three decades, Hampton Trust has been delivering interventions to individuals who use harm in their relationships. Throughout this time, we have remained committed to independent evaluation.

This collaboration presents a valuable opportunity to explore what works, identify challenges, and uncover ways to enhance our approach. I am grateful to the University of Southampton for securing funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and to the research team for their commitment and dedication to delivering a robust, multi-site evaluation of CARA”

Dr Sara Morgan is based at the University of Southampton and led the research that was coordinated by NIHR ARC Wessex:

"Project CARA has been shown to reduce domestic abuse re-arrests, particularly in the short term. Our research evidence is being used to inform further expansion of CARA in the UK, through national recommendations, such as how to improve the process for victim-survivors. It’s only by working together across organisations like the NIHR, Police and Hampton Trust that we can achieve this.”

If you would like to know more about the work of NIHR ARC Wessex with CARA you can see details here

If you would like to know more about our work on domestic abuse details of projects are listed here

Contact: Jamie Stevenson Jamie.stevenson@soton.ac.uk to arrange interview or for more information

The charity Hampton Trust was founded in 1996 to deliver domestic abuse perpetrator programmes within the criminal justice system and has since become a leading voice in perpetrator interventions. The charity delivers a range of award-winning community-based interventions for families experiencing domestic abuse, alongside providing innovative criminal justice responses.

Hampton Trust currently delivers CARA in eight police regions, and have 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 n 2021 found that reoffending was reduced by 81% within the first six months and by 56% within the first twelve months after participating in the programme. For every £1 invested in CARA, police forces saved £2.75. Evidence from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in 2021 showed a 76% reduction of future offending in general and an 81% reduction of future domestic abuse offending.

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