1. Dave Potts Respect: Who, what and how

2. DVPPs: Historical Context Approx. 40 years of history, with roots in 1970’s USA “battered women’s movement.” First US women’s refuge established 1974 Traditional mental health responses seen as dangerous and ineffective Advocates asked men to work with men who “batter” “Battering” seen as intentional behavior First programmes had no links with criminal justice system (Barnes 2009)

3. Programmes that shaped the field: Emerge in Boston MA (1977) Manalive in San Francisco CA (1979) Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Duluth MN (1980)

4. UK perpetrator programme history Change, Scotland 1989 DVIP, London, 1990 DVPP, Scottish probation, 1991 Ahimsa, Plymouth (Everyman, London) 1995 Various probation areas: Leicester, London, West Yorks mid 90s onwards

5. Respect Our vision is to end violence and abuse in intimate partner and close family relationships. Respect is a UK registered charity, number 1141636.

6. Respect’s three areas of work are: Work with domestic violence perpetrators (male and female) Work with male victims of domestic violence Work with young people who are aggressive or violent in intimate relationships We started out with adult perpetrator work - and that’s what we are most known for - but we work on all three areas

7. Membership and governance Respect grew out of National Practitioners’ Network (of perpetrator workers) This was set up in 1990s by practitioners in perpetrator programmes, particularly the Scottish ones Members are organisational and individual Governance by members elected annually to executive board

8. Staffing CEO Jo Todd Development Director Neil Blacklock Helplines coordinator Ippo Panteloudakis Services manager Colin Fitzgerald Research & training manager Thangam Debbonaire (p-t) Young people’s workers Kate Iwi and Julia Worms (p-t) Part-time Helpline and admin staff 25 freelance trainers & accreditation assessors Office in London but staff and associates live/work across UK

9. Respect activities Two national Helplines – Respect Phoneline (with/for/about perpetrators) & Men’s Advice Line (male victims) Technical support, resources and training on all core areas of work across UK and beyond Research – Mirabal multi site (UK); Impact (European) Accreditation of perpetrator work Lobbying and policy making Developing resources

10. Respect Helplines Funding from Home Office, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and NI Respect Phoneline 2013: 2,943 callers and 1361 email clients. 101 callers from Scotland. Men’s Advice Line 2013: 4517 callers and 1548 email clients. 182 callers from Scotland. Helpline workers offer information, referral, listening ear, specialist advice, motivation

11. Respect Accreditation  105 competencies for group or individual work with male perpetrators  Based upon best available evidence from research & practitioners (evidence under review at moment)  Women & children’s safety paramount  Risk & case management is central  We do not prescribe a model of work

12. Respect and research Partnerships with Bristol, Manchester, Durham, London Metropolitan and Sunderland Universities Commission and carry out research on all three core areas of work Currently reviewing research evidence for all three and preparing evidence-based good practice guidance Multi site research Mirabal on impact of DVPPs

13. Setting up and supporting DVPPs Technical advice from Respect staff, trainers, assessors Specialist training provided on site or open access Resources on our website Client data management system built and supported for members working with perpetrators or victims

14. Respect work with young people Two part time staff plus associate trainers Toolkit for work with young people who use violence and aggression in intimate relationships – group/individual; male/female Developing specialist kit for young people abusing parents – being piloted and evaluated at the moment

15. Common Aspects of Programmes Most DV seen as a gendered social historical crime, not a sickness within perpetrators Men-only group-work programmes - but more developing for work with women Often cognitive behavioural approach Most programmes not clinically-based Close relationship with victim advocates, and offer parallel linked support for partners of men in programmes Limited confidentiality

16. Structured Group Work Programme Men are challenged to take responsibility for their actions rather than blaming their partners or outside factors for their violence. Sessions focus on: ending physical and sexual violence, ending other forms of abuse and developing respectful relationship skills Some offer individual work or work with women using violence

17. Women’s Services Range of services Free and confidential Proactive contact Partner or ex-partner on group Safety Planning Risk perspective Emotional Support Impact of DA on children & parenting Clear messages & realistic expectations General information & signposting

18. Goals of Intervention Victim safety and autonomyVictim safety and autonomy Eliminating perpetrator’s opportunities and inclination to abuseEliminating perpetrator’s opportunities and inclination to abuse System accountability and responsibilitySystem accountability and responsibility Changing the climate of tolerance to violence against women and childrenChanging the climate of tolerance to violence against women and children

19. Ways that perpetrator programmes can raise the risk Giving women unrealistic expectations which encourage them to make unsafe choices. Giving professionals the impression that the perpetrator will change / is safe. Perpetrators abusing their attendance on the programme. Encouraging women to put their trust in the professionals to protect them and their children. Offering hope that women’s partners will change.

20. Ways that DVPPs can increase safety 1 Changing his behaviour some men will stop their violence and significantly change their abuse some will stop their violence but maintain their controlling and intimidating behaviours Some will continue their violence Although not all men will end their abuse, DVPPs can reduce dangerousness

21. Ways that DVPPs can increase safety 2 Managing risk Skilled specialist workers focusing on the perpetrator, while supporting women Opportunity to scrutinise his behaviour and identify, assess and manage risk on an ongoing basis Link with local Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels (MAPPPs)/Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) Risks can be picked up and acted on

22. Ways that DVPPs can increase safety 3 Supporting women – the integrated model Perpetrator programmes should never be run in isolation To offset the risks, they should always be run alongside comprehensive, pro-active specialist support services for women, They should always be part of a coordinated community response Women and children from all communities can be helped and empowered

23. A tight coordinated response has an impact on compliance and recidivism (Gondolf)A tight coordinated response has an impact on compliance and recidivism (Gondolf) 4 yr longitudinal follow-up evaluation shows a clear de- escalation of re-assault and other abuse over time, with the vast majority of men reaching sustained non- violence.4 yr longitudinal follow-up evaluation shows a clear de- escalation of re-assault and other abuse over time, with the vast majority of men reaching sustained non- violence. At 30 months after batterer program intake, 80% of the men had not been violent to their partners in the previous year, and at 48 months, 90% had not been violent in the previous year (Gondolf, 2000; 2002; 2004)At 30 months after batterer program intake, 80% of the men had not been violent to their partners in the previous year, and at 48 months, 90% had not been violent in the previous year (Gondolf, 2000; 2002; 2004) Perpetrator Intervention Effectiveness (USA)

24. Further information: www.respect.uk.net Respect Helpline number: 0808 802 4040 Men’s Advice Line number: 0808 801 0327 Thank you!