Crime

Huge investment to tackle domestic abuse perpetrators and protect victims

Published

5 months ago

July 28, 2025

A MAJOR government initiative will see £53 million invested over the next four years to directly target the most dangerous domestic abuse perpetrators across England and Wales, in a bid to reduce repeat offending and better protect women and children.

Announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the plan forms a key part of the Government’s wider “Plan for Change” and commitment to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. The strategy focuses on shifting the burden of safety from victims to perpetrators by ramping up early interventions, disruption tactics, and long-term behavioural change.

Drive Project to expand nationwide

At the heart of the new measures is the expansion of the Drive Project, a specialist programme first piloted in 2016, which uses intensive case management to challenge and change the behaviour of high-risk abusers. Backed by a consortium of leading organisations – Respect, SafeLives, and Social Finance – the programme combines offender monitoring, protective orders, and substance misuse interventions, with parallel support for victims through Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs).

Results from the scheme show dramatic reductions in abuse: physical abuse down by 82%, sexual abuse by 88%, stalking by 75%, and controlling behaviour by 73%.

With the new funding, the project will expand to 15 additional areas by March 2026, with full national rollout planned thereafter.

Targeting predatory behaviour in public spaces

Alongside the domestic abuse investment, an additional £230,000 will be used to enhance Project Vigilant, a scheme that deploys plain-clothed officers in nightlife hotspots to detect and disrupt predatory behaviour. Operated by Thames Valley Police and others, the initiative also includes new tools such as sniffer dogs trained to detect date-rape drugs.

This dual approach – tackling offenders both in private settings and in the night-time economy – underscores the government’s broader shift to a suspect-focused policing model.

Victims at the centre

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, said the new focus aims to ensure victims are no longer responsible for managing the threat posed by abusers.

“We are going after perpetrators wherever they pose a threat – at home or on the street. Every penny we invest in holding offenders to account is a step toward a safer future for victims,” she said.

The announcement precedes the Civil Society Summit being held today (Thursday, July 17), where ministers will join panels alongside leading organisations including Women’s Aid and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner to discuss long-term strategy.

Collaborative delivery

The Drive Project will be delivered in collaboration with police forces, Police and Crime Commissioners, and local domestic abuse services. Key interventions will include:

Use of protection orders and enforcement to disrupt abuse
Working with social services to protect children
Relocating perpetrators to prevent reoffending
Tackling drug and alcohol misuse
Long-term behavioural programmes
Continuous victim support

Kyla Kirkpatrick, Director of The Drive Partnership, welcomed the new funding, saying: “Victim-survivors consistently tell us they want those who harm them to be seen, stopped, and held to account. This investment allows us to do just that, in partnership with local services.”

The latest funding comes on top of nearly £20 million announced earlier this year to support victims of abuse, including £6 million earmarked for helplines.

A refreshed strategy on violence against women and girls is expected shortly, setting out further steps on prevention, early intervention, and system-wide transformation.

Crime

Lamphey parent fined over child’s school attendance record

Published

1 hour ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A PARENT from the Lamphey area has been fined after failing to ensure their child attended school regularly, magistrates heard.

The case was dealt with in the defendant’s absence at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 11) following proceedings brought by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The court heard that between Wednesday (April 30) and Friday (May 23), the parent failed to secure regular school attendance for their child, who was of compulsory school age at the time.

The offence was brought under section 444 of the Education Act 1996, which places a legal duty on parents to ensure their children attend school regularly.

The case was proved in absence, and magistrates imposed a fine of £220. The parent was also ordered to pay an £88 victim services surcharge and £100 in prosecution costs.

A collection order was made, with the total balance of £408 to be paid by Thursday (Jan 9).

Magistrates imposed reporting restrictions under section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. These prohibit the publication of any information that could identify the child involved, including names, addresses, schools, workplaces or images. The restrictions remain in force until the child reaches the age of eighteen.

Crime

Haverfordwest couple fined over child’s school attendance

Published

1 hour ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A COUPLE from the Haverfordwest school area have been fined after failing to ensure their child attended school regularly, a magistrates’ court has heard.

The pair were dealt with at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 11) in separate but linked cases brought by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The court heard that over a period in May, the couple failed to secure regular attendance at school for their child, who was of compulsory school age at the time.

Both cases were brought under section 444 of the Education Act 1996, which places a legal duty on parents to ensure their children attend school regularly.

One parent admitted the offence, with the guilty plea taken into account during sentencing. They were fined £40 and ordered to pay a £16 victim services surcharge and £128 in prosecution costs.

The second parent did not attend court and the case was proved in absence. Magistrates imposed a £60 fine, along with a £24 victim services surcharge and £100 in costs.

Collection orders were made in both cases, with payments set at £24 per month starting in January.

Magistrates imposed strict reporting restrictions under section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. These prohibit the publication of any information that could identify the child involved, including names, addresses, schools, workplaces or images.

The restrictions remain in place until the child reaches the age of eighteen.

Crime

Trefin dog case ends in forfeiture order after protection notice breach

Published

1 hour ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Village protest followed months of complaints about barking

A WOMAN from north Pembrokeshire has been fined £1,000 and ordered to forfeit four dogs after repeatedly breaching a Community Protection Notice issued following complaints and protests in her village.

Julia Goodgame, aged fifty-eight, of Bryn Y Derwydd, Trefin, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 11), where she admitted failing to comply with the terms of a notice served by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The court heard that on Friday (June 20) Goodgame failed to secure control of her dogs just three days after a Community Protection Notice was issued on Tuesday (June 17). The notice was served under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The case followed months of complaints from residents in Trefin relating to dog noise and control. Earlier this year, the dispute escalated into a public protest in the village, with a number of residents gathering to raise concerns about constant barking and its impact on daily life.

Goodgame had previously denied breaching the notice when she first appeared before magistrates in September. At that hearing, the council alleged multiple breaches across June and July and said enforcement action had been taken only after informal measures failed. A trial was later listed for Monday (Nov 10), with several witnesses expected to give evidence.

However, at the November hearing, Goodgame changed her plea from not guilty to guilty to one offence, with the remaining allegations not proceeded with.

As part of Wednesday’s sentence, magistrates ordered the immediate forfeiture and seizure of four Border Collie dogs, which Goodgame told the court were the only dogs in her possession.

Authorised officers from Pembrokeshire County Council are permitted to seize the dogs, with custody transferred to the council or an approved animal welfare organisation to ensure their humane handling and care. The court granted the council powers to rehome the dogs through reputable animal welfare organisations, or to destroy them if deemed necessary.

Goodgame was also ordered to pay the reasonable costs of seizure, transport, detention and any veterinary treatment required, along with additional enforcement costs.

A Criminal Behaviour Order was imposed until further order of the court. The order prohibits Goodgame from allowing her dogs to create unreasonable noise, leaving dogs outdoors while she is absent from the property, or allowing dog faeces to accumulate at the address. Any waste stored on the premises must be kept in secured bins away from boundary fences.

In addition to the £1,000 fine, she was ordered to pay a £400 victim services surcharge and £1,200 in prosecution costs. A collection order was made, allowing deductions to be taken directly from benefits if necessary.

The forfeiture order was made under section 50 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.