An evaluation of the Essex violence against women and girls perpetrator pathway

Abstract: The UK legal framework and strategies aimed at reducing and preventing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) have developed significantly in the UK over the past two decades. In 2017, the Home Office launched a £17million, three-year VAWG Service Transformation Fund for local commissioners to help prevent and address violence against women and girls (Home Office, 2016b). Within this framework, a multi-agency VAWG perpetrator pathway model was developed by the Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board. The main aims of the fund included preventing perpetrators from (re)offending, identifying opportunities to prevent harm, implementing early intervention, and promoting local best practices. Among the successful bids, the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) was allocated £450,000 to implement the ‘Essex VAWG perpetrator pathway’ as well as to increase funding support to sexual violence and abuse support services. (Home Office, 2017). In this report, we present an evaluation of the four perpetrator interventions funded by the Essex PFCC, in relation to the wider aims and objectives of the VAWG strategy.