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Commissioner funds early intervention programme to support families suffering domestic abuse

The-Blue-Door

Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside Keith Hunter has provided £154,000 funding for a two-year familial intervention programme in Northern Lincolnshire called Who’s in Charge?

Who’s in Charge? is a programme aimed at parents whose children are being abusive or violent toward them or who appear out of parental control, officially known as a Children and Adolescent on Parent Violence (CAPV) programme, which seeks to change unwanted behaviour in both the young people and adults and rebalance the parent/child relationships in the family.

In the past, CAPV was called ‘Battered Parent Syndrome’, it is usually part of what is termed inter-familial abuse. Known levels of CAPV are usually the tip of the iceberg mainly due to under-reporting by the adults affected. Although more recent rising levels of incidents may be due in part to improvements in recording, national research has also indicated the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns as a factor.

A recent study by The University of Manchester1 has found an increase in CAPV during the first lockdown period. The study is based on the findings of an online survey of 104 parents (with children and adolescents aged 10 to 19) with previous experience of CAPV, and 47 practitioners:

  • Seven in ten parents reported an increase in violence during the survey period (mid-April to mid-June 2020) and;
  • More than two-thirds (69%) of practitioners said they had seen an increase in referrals for CAPV.
  • However, thirty (29%) of parents reported an improvement in their child’s behaviour, which many attributed to a reduction in the stress associated with having to attend school or having to manage transitions between different social situations.

Locally, there is a clear need for this intervention, evidenced significantly in North and North East Lincolnshire where there is high demand. Who’s In Charge? has already been delivered in North East Lincolnshire by Domestic Abuse support service The Blue Door, and the funding from the Commissioner will enable the programme to be expanded across the whole of the south bank of the Humber for two years .

The key benefits of Who’s In Charge? are:

  • Engaging with young people and their families who have patterns of repeat offending.
  • Supporting early intervention with young people who cause harm to change their behaviours.
  • Develop healthier and safer relationships, increase the safety of parents, families and children which consequently results in fewer victims suffering the trauma of abuse, by changing the behaviour of individuals.
  • Preventing the escalation of abusive behaviour and contributing to wider community safety

Keith Hunter said: “My office is committed to creating safer communities and putting victims and the most vulnerable at the heart of everything we do. This funding aims to reduce the harm to families and communities and target interventions to those who are most in need. Familial abuse is a complex problem and requires a partnership approach to work with families and individuals for sustainable change”.

Posted on Wednesday 16th December 2020