HC Deb 20 March 2002 vol 382 cc406-7W
Margaret Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a national register of injunctions in cases of domestic violence. [43542]

Beverley Hughes

The ministerial group on domestic violence is considering this idea in consultation with practitioners. The Government"s conclusions will be announced as soon as possible.

Margaret Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken by his Department to improve domestic violence services for perpetrators and their partners; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the Probation Service domestic violence Pathfinder scheme. [42664]

Beverley Hughes

Two Pathfinder initiatives on domestic violence are under way. One is to pilot the Duluth Non-violent Men programme. The other is a major piece of research to identify the criminogenic needs of domestic violence perpetrators, in order to establish an evidence based way of addressing this type of offending.

The research into the pilot phase of the Duluth programme is due to finish in October 2002, and a report on it will be available over the winter of 2002–03. The research project is due to be completed in August 2002.

The National Probation Service is committed to completing the Pathfinders and to using the knowledge gained to review services to domestic violence perpetrators, in order to maximise reductions in abusive behaviour and develop services to enhance victim safety.

Margaret Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the results of the Duluth domestic violence Pathfinder evaluation to be published. [42659]

Beverley Hughes

The pilots are due to finish in September 2002 and interim evaluations will be available approximately three months after that. Longer term evaluations linking the programme to reconvictions will follow subsequently, but it is not possible at this stage to say when they will be available.

Margaret Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances the Duluth domestic violence Pathfinder will be rolled out before the results of the evaluation are known. [42663]

Beverley Hughes

The Duluth programme will not be rolled out nationally unless it can be demonstrated that it meets the criteria for accreditation laid down by the Joint Prison/Probation Accreditation Panel.