A PROJECT to identify the most dangerous perpetrators of physical and sexual violence in the community has been rolled out.

Hampshire Constabulary has launched a force-wide domestic abuse project to pursue repeat domestic abuse perpetrators.

It forms efforts to tackle violence against women and girls across the county.

The force has worked in partnership with The Hampton Trust since January 2021 and the project is funded by the Home Office.

It aims to identify and manage the most dangerous perpetrators of physical and sexual violence in the community and change their behaviour.

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The scheme, Project Foundation, was first piloted in Southampton and Eastleigh and has since been rolled out across the remainder of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Officers are making unannounced visits to perpetrators, offering them diversion through behavioural change programmes as well as any relevant support to alcohol, drug, mental health or financial problems to stop the cycle of abuse and identify any news relationships where someone could be at risk.

The project seeks to identify the underlying causes of abusive behaviour towards and offers "long-term" solutions to protect victims from further abuse.

Detective Chief Inspector David West, head of offender management and lead for Domestic Abuse perpetrator response said: "We know that women are disproportionately victims of domestic abuse at the hands of men, which is why this is part of our strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. We also know the devastating impact domestic abuse can have on children who witness it in the home.

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"When we do not have sufficient evidence to prosecute but we know incidents are happening and someone is suffering, Project Foundation allows us to be relentless at going after abusers by disrupting their behaviour and offering long term change with the help and support of our partners.

"Our results will be seen in those who begin to engage with behaviour change programmes, the reduction of offending and I hope, the increased confidence of victims who have suffered so terribly."

CEO of Hampton Trust, Chantal Hughes, said: "This is a way of effectively managing high harm perpetrators by fast-tracking them into Hampton Trust for assessment and support. "Importantly, the integrated victim safety service ensures victims are also supported. Once identified, we work alongside Hampshire Constabulary to monitor and track all perpetrators referred to Project Foundation. "I have no doubt that this is a positive step forward in sending a strong message to perpetrators that we are continuing to monitor them."

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