Introduction

A multi-methodological approach was used to meet the aims of the project, with the research design focusing on building a local picture, and drawing on national (and international) experience, some of which has already been detailed in the previous section, to inform thinking about future local developments.

Local picture

Documentary and statistical analysis

At present there is no inter-agency database for the collation of information about domestic violence. Since agencies work with different definitions, legal and organisational responsibilities and geographical boundaries, the analysis of data can prove difficult. Bearing in mind these limitations, the following documentary and statistical information was obtained from participating agencies:

Demographic profile of the male population for the city as a whole and in the two specified areas

Operational and policy definitions of domestic violence being used by voluntary and statutory agencies

Risk assessment or screening frameworks being used in relation to domestic violence

Levels and outcomes of reporting of incidents of domestic violence to the police (for the city and for the three Operational Command Units)

Gender, age and ethnicity of alleged offenders

Presence of children

Interviews and consultation

Given that work with perpetrators is such a new area for Coventry, an information leaflet was written and circulated to over 50 agencies and groups identified in consultation with the Steering Group, as well as key individuals in the City Council. The leaflet was also sent to the Coventry Race Equality Council for circulation at their open meeting. In order to direct the consultation process, topic guides were developed and used for all face to face and telephone discussions. In total, 41 face-to-face interviews and 10 telephone discussions were held with key statutory agencies, voluntary organisations, and community and faith-based groups (see Appendix 3 for a full list). The aim was to speak to a wide range of organisations that fell into the categories of potential referrers, those working with women and children, and community-based groups. In practice, there was overlap between these categories for some organisations; where this was the case, elements of their views are included in more than one section. As data was not always available within agencies, an important aspect of the study was to gain impressions from as broad a range of relevant people as possible.

National picture

Interviews with staff in selected perpetrator programmes

In order to identify issues of best practice and examine programmes which could provide a suitable model for Coventry, as well as the international and national literature review of perpetrator discussions were held with individuals from the Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) in London, AHIMSA in Plymouth, the Challenge Project, Colchester, and Leicester Action on Domestic Violence (LADV). Discussions also took place with individuals from the West Midlands Probation Domestic Violence Perpetrators’ Programme and TEMPER to assist in making an assessment of existing local work and any associated issues.

The analysis, drawing on the findings from each phase of the research, was carried out on a thematic basis, with a particular emphasis on convergent and divergent views.

Findings are presented in the following order:

Demographic and statistical data

Potential referrers

Voluntary sector referrers

Community and faith based groups

Women’s support services

Perpetrator Programmes