Cafcass and DVVP Programmes for Women
Cafcass were asked:
“As you indicate at “spotlight on domestic violence” newsletter on Cafcass website that “last year over 700 men were referred across England to attend a Domestic
Violence Perpetrator Programme (DVPP) as a court ordered activity.
The cafcass newsletter goes on to say:
“Cafcass commissions a range of programmes from 26 providers. Nicola Fraser, Treatment Manager for one provider, the Greater Manchester Rehabilitation Company (CRC), explains what happens on its programme ‘Building Better Relationships’.”,
Please supply the figures for women that were referred across England to attend a Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programme (DVPP) as a court ordered activity, furthermore listing the providers of such programmes.
Cafcass responded:
Cafcass does not hold the data you have requested as Cafcass does not as yet have a
perpetrator programme for women which we are able to commission as a court ordered activity.This is because Cafcass provide accredited programmes and as yet there are no consistent standards or accreditation for programmes which are specifically for women perpetrators although Cafcass acknowledges that men can be victims too.
In relevant case Cafcass will respond by offering signposting to male victim support services and ensuring that our assessments are balanced and safe for the child in proceedings regardless of the provenance of the domestic abuse. Cafcass is working with partner agencies to consider gender neutral and female perpetrator programmes and how they might be commissioned in the future.
The FOI requester notes in their reply of September 2016 to Cafcass:
“The Crime Survey for England and Wales ( CSEW) clearly states that 7% of women and 5% of men will encounter domestic abuse in their lives. In terms of percentage, that’s a pretty close figure, yet CAFCASS has clearly not taken this into consideration”
Cafcass have not yet replied – correct as at August 2017.
Another FOI request was placed in August 2016 by a separate researcher:
“Last year over 700 men were referred across England to attend a Domestic Violence
Perpetrator Programme (DVPP) as a court ordered activity”
I would like to know:
1) In the same period how many women were referred across England to attend a
DVPP as a court ordered activity?
2) How many places are available on DVPP programmes across England for women?
3) Given that the Crime Survey of England and Wales consistently finds 40% of
perpetrators of Domestic Violence are women, how are Cafcass and the Family Court
complying with their public sector duty of equality if they are only referring men to
DVPP courses?
Cafcass responded to this request as follows:
Cafcass does not hold the data you have requested as Cafcass does not as yet have a
perpetrator programme for women which we are able to commission as a court ordered activity.This is because Cafcass provide accredited programmes and as yet there are no consistent standards or accreditation for programmes which are specifically for women perpetrators although Cafcass acknowledges that men can be victims too.
In relevant case Cafcass will respond by offering signposting to male victim support services and ensuring that our assessments are balanced and safe for the child in proceedings regardless of the provenance of the domestic abuse.
Cafcass is working with partner agencies to consider gender neutral and female perpetrator programmes and how they might be commissioned in the future.
In a Family Law system designed for combative parents there is no real allowance for the views of children and any understanding of how Family Law ultimately impacts on children most of all.
We speak for the children in Family Law so that, finally, the children have a voice.