Each year more than 100,000 people in the UK are at high and imminent risk of being murdered or seriously injured as a result of domestic abuse. Services rightly focus on meeting the needs of victims but too often perpetrators are not held to account, and their abusive behaviour continues.  Only 1% of perpetrators get a specialist intervention that might prevent future abusive behaviour and as a result there is a high level of repeat victimisation. We want long-term solutions to tackle domestic abuse: to reduce the number of victims – we must challenge perpetrators to stop.

Drive challenges perpetrators of domestic abuse. It will develop, test and evaluate a new model to fundamentally change perpetrator behaviour to make victims and families safe. To reduce the number of victims, we must reduce the number of perpetrators.

We aim to change the public narrative from ‘why doesn’t she leave’ to ‘why doesn’t he stop?’

The Drive Partnership is made up of Respect, SafeLives and Social Finance. The pilot programmes will be delivered in Essex, South Wales and West Sussex. It is funded by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, Tudor Trust and the Police and Crime Commissioners in all three areas. The project has also benefited from local authority support.

Frequently asked questions about the Drive Project

Press release: New programme to hold perpetrators of domestic abuse to account