Every year approximately 2.3 million people in England and Wales experience domestic abuse, with women constituting over two-thirds of victims.
The current UK government has committed substantial resources to combat this issue, aiming to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. However, mounting budgetary constraints have prompted the government to impose efficiency targets across departments mandating a 5% reduction in spending by the end of the current parliamentary term.
Professor Yiannis Karavias and his collaborators at the University of Birmingham have shown that the CARA (Cautioning and Relationship Abuse) intervention greatly reduced domestic abuse reoffending, with rates falling by 40 to 65% within a year of the intervention. It also offered significant economic benefits, with conservative estimates of savings ranging from £3.24 to £11.10 per £1 invested in CARA - an early intervention for domestic abuse offenders who have received a Conditional Caution.
Based on these findings, they recommend expanding CARA nationwide to reduce domestic abuse reoffending and generate economic savings. The government should prioritize evidence-based interventions like CARA to enhance public safety, reduce justice system burdens, and improve victim outcomes.
Findings from this research have been featured in national media, including The Guardian, and actively promoted to Westminster policymakers and Members of Parliament to build support for national rollout. The research has since been cited in the Government's Strategy on Violence Against Women and Girls, marking a significant step towards shaping national policy on domestic abuse intervention.