§ Margaret MoranTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what domestic violence perpetrator programmes and linked partner support services are provided in the London probation area. [42660]
§ Beverley HughesThe central area currently has four groups running per week and a women's support service is provided. In the north-west of London current provision is by the Domestic Violence Intervention Project, and the south-east, south-west and north-east areas are piloting the Domestic Violence Pathfinder programme delivering Duluth. The programme for perpetrators is known as 'Duluth'. It gets its title from the programme under development in Duluth in Minnesota, in the United States of America. A multi-agency programme runs in conjunction with support services to women and involves close networking with police, the Probation Service, Social Services, voluntary agencies and any other appropriate organisations. The programme is 24 weeks long and involves pre and post group work. It is currently running in West Yorkshire and London as a pathfinder 339W project and is currently subject to an evaluation process allied to a research programme concerning the issues around domestic violence.