Nearly half a million pounds secured for scheme spotting early signs of abusive behaviour and stalking in North Yorkshire

The programme in North Yorkshire will see intervention for young people displaying high risk abusive behaviour towards friends and family, as well as support for current and potential perpetrators with complex needs.

It is hoped the grant of £445,892, secured by the county's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan, will prevent domestic violence and abuse by curbing it at the source.

A new team will also be brought in to examine patterns of stalking behaviour, understand the triggers and develop ways of intervening.

The North Yorkshire region saw a rise in stalking and harassment offences in the year ending March 2020, according to annual crime figures released by the Office of National Statistics over the summer.

Police officers will also be trained to recognise early tell-tale signs that a person is capable of abusive behaviour and when and how to intervene.

Commissioner Ms Mulligan said: “All too often I hear from victims of domestic abuse and stalking that the warning signs were there before the abuse began.

"We need to make sure those warning signs are acted upon in the future - both by giving those at risk of abuse the confidence to come forward and report their fears, and by agencies and partners working together to share information and identify potential perpetrators.

“Better training, more coordination and appropriate individualised support will make a huge difference to the efforts to support potential abusers before they can abuse, and stop those currently abusing from creating more pain and suffering."

The scehem will be delivered by multiple agencies in North Yorkshire, including North Yorkshire Police, councils, local NHS services and domestic abuse and young people's charities such as York-based IDAS, Changing Lives and Respect.

"It is only by doing this that we can protect those at risk of abuse and those being abused from having to suffer even more in the future," Ms Mulligan added.

“Together, we will make our communities safer and people feel safer and I welcome the fact this Home Office funding will allow us to deliver this innovative approach.”

The Home Office funding will be invested by the end of March 2021 and the Commissioner has committed to match the funding to allow the services to be extended until March 2022.

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