Early intervention in repeat cases of domestic abuse: An evaluation of Project 360

Randomised Control Trial Status

Completed

Trial Hypothesis

In repeat incidents of domestic abuse, early intervention by trained engagement workers, to offer domestic abuse victims and their children with support and information regarding legal options and assistance accessing local services, will positively impact a number of outcomes. These include victim engagement in the criminal justice process, contact with perpetrators, victim and child welfare and health outcomes as well as satisfaction with the police. Such an intervention will offer greater empowerment victims to leave abusive relationships and ultimately reduce the cost, to both the public and respective households, of domestic abuse in the UK.

Geographical area

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Research Institution / Organisation

University of Leicester

In Collaboration With

Leicestershire Police

Contact Name

Dr Martin Foureaux Koppensteiner

Project Start Date

September 2014

Participants - inclusion criteria

The subject pool consists of households that:

Report an incidence of domestic abuse to police during the duration of the project
Have had two previously reported incidents over the previous 365 day period, and
Are not assessed as “high risk”.

Target Sample Size

550 cases in experimental, 550 cases in control.

Study Design

Basic randomisation of a treatment group compared to a control group receiving services available through current procedures.

Interventions

Control: services available through current Leicestershire Police procedures.

Treatment: There are two components to the treatment:

Victims will be contacted, by phone, by a trained engagement worker (targeting within 24hrs of a report being filed by responding officers). The engagement worker will offer to provide further assistance to the victim and, if assistance is accepted, set up a one-to-one visit with the victim (targeting within 24 hours of the call).
If children are in the household, engagement workers will inform a contact person at the child’s school that a domestic disturbance has taken place.

Outcome Measures

Information will be collected over the 365 day period following initial contact by the engagement worker.

All households: Number of police call-outs (made by the victim and made by a third party), participation with engagement workers, victim police statements (and withdrawal of statements), victim engagement in legal proceedings, and sentencing of perpetrators.

Households with children: school attendance, school exclusions and school completion.
Self-reported by victims (collected via survey): Perceived safety/security/quality of life, awareness of and confidence in accessing support services, and ongoing relationship with the perpetrator.

Summary of Findings

Project 360: An intervention to address victim-police engagement in repeat domestic violence cases - Policy Report

Date last updated

Wednesday 27 June 2018