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£2.4m to tackle domestic abuse
29/10/2009
Funding of £2.4 million to roll out the Caledonian System which provides a comprehensive approach to dealing with domestic abuse has been announced.
The Caledonian System aims to increase the safety of women and children by working with men convicted of domestic abuse related offences to reduce their re-offending.
Almost 50,000 domestic abuse cases were recorded by police in 2007-08. The vast majority of incidents (85 per cent) involve a male attacker and a female victim. Councils are now being invited to bid for share of funding.
Speaking at the Association of Directors of Social Work Conference, Crieff, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said:
"The effects of domestic abuse can be devastating and we are determined to break the culture of violence. Youngsters who grow up in households where violence is normal often suffer emotionally and educationally.
"Alcohol does not and cannot make a man abuse a woman. However, all too often alcohol plays a part and that is why we are taking tough action to address Scotland's culture of alcohol misuse.
"Later this year we will bring in an alcohol Bill that will include measures such as minimum pricing and a ban on irresponsible promotions.
"The Caledonian System provides a comprehensive approach to help the victims of domestic abuse while simultaneously reducing re-offending. Given the success of the Caledonian System in trials we are now supporting its roll out across Scotland with £2.4 million funding."
The Caledonian System involves:
A programme of intervention with men lasting at least two years, made up of individual and group work. This element of the programme is funded by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice.
Providing services to women and children affected by domestic abuse. This work is funded by the Cabinet Secretary for Health.
Protocols for the safe sharing of information by all agencies involved with the families concerned.
Since April 2008, Edinburgh Council in partnership with Scottish Borders, and East Lothian, West Lothian and Midlothian councils has been involved in a trial of the Caledonian System.
The system is based on a risk and needs assessment, and a risk management approach designed to deal with possible harm to women and children. The man's risk of future domestic abuse is the key focus of the men's programme and supervision. The physical safety and psychological well-being of women and children are the focus of associated services, in liaison with social work, other services and the voluntary sector.
Men who have been convicted of offences involving domestic abuse are referred to the Caledonian programme. By assisting the men to make changes, supporting the woman and children to be safe and helping other services to work in a way which increases safety and reduces risk, the Caledonian System aims to be a more effective way to tackle domestic abuse.
The Caledonian System men's programme was granted accredited status by the Scottish Accreditation Panel for Offender Programmes on 19th February 2009, for a period of 5 years.
In June 2008, Scottish Ministers in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities launched the National Domestic Abuse Delivery Plan for Children and Young People supported by an allocation of 10 million pounds over the three-year period 2008-11.