A new approach is helping to break the cycle of domestic abuse at the earliest point of intervention.
The High Sheriff of Wiltshire visited Swindon custody suite to learn more about the scheme, which offers behavioural support to suspects in police custody.
Since January, 40 individuals have been dealt with through the programme.
Led by the Open-2-Change programme, run by the Swindon-based charity Society Without Abuse, behaviour change workers have been based in the unit since January as part of the wider Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) partnership.
The scheme was the focus of a visit by High Sheriff Martin Nye, who met with behaviour change workers, Detective Inspector Lou Morley, and members of the offender management team.
Detective Inspector Lou Morley, Wiltshire Police’s lead on domestic abuse, said: “No one wants to be a perpetrator.
“We all imagine being in a loving relationship, and those who cause harm are often overlooked as partner agencies and police focus on supporting the victim.
“By placing behaviour change workers in custody, we can reach perpetrators at the earliest opportunity and offer them the tools to change their behaviour.
“Many DA perpetrators grew up in homes where violence was present and may be suffering from trauma.
“This may be the first time they’ve been asked how they are – and truly listened to.”
The programme engages with detainees at the point of arrest, helping to develop safety plans for their release and offering referrals for support in areas such as substance misuse, housing, and anger management.
Louisa Wrighton, manager of the Open-2-Change programme, said: “If we are to break the cycle of domestic abuse we need to get to the root cause of the issue and that’s the people who are carrying out these harmful behaviours.
“Our one-to-one programme has been working across Swindon since 2019 and to now be able to work with Wiltshire Police inside the custody suite at Gablecross means we can directly reach the people who would benefit most from our support at the earlier opportunity.
“We can then work with them to identify the reasons why they behaved as they did, and then help them to learn from and adapt their behaviours.
“This then has a positive impact on future relationships as well as the potential to reduce reoffending.”
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