4th December 2019 – Police and Crime Commisioner News Article – New scheme to break cycle of abuse to be introduced in Norfolk

An innovative pilot-project aimed at breaking the cycle of domestic abuse by educating offenders about the effect and consequences of their actions is to be piloted in Norfolk.

The two-year initiative – funded by the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lorne Green – will see low level first-time perpetrators placed on an intervention course to address their behavioural issues.

Norfolk Constabulary has been granted special permission by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to implement Project CARA (Conditional Cautioning and Relationship Abuse) which will see some DA perpetrators given Conditional Cautions prior to compulsory attendance on a two-day workshop.

Norfolk is building on the success of similar Project CARA pilots elsewhere in the country to introduce such a scheme in a bid to offer an improved criminal justice response to DA victims by enhanced risk management and holding offenders to account for their actions.

Rigorous criteria will be in place before a perpetrator will be assessed for a CARA course including, the express wishes of the victim are considered and there is no evidence of coercion or control.

If an offender does not engage or complete in the workshop they will be referred back to the police for further action.

Launching CARA in Norfolk, PCC Lorne Green, said: “Domestic abuse transcends socio-economic situation, religion and age and new approaches are vital in breaking the ‘revolving door’ of this deplorable crime.

Read more….