ANROWS and AIC partner to trial a new domestic violence focused deterrence program
MEDIA RELEASE
EMBARGOED UNTIL WEDNESDAY 18 MAY 2022
ANROWS, in partnership with the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), has launched the Coordinated Enforcement and Support to Eliminate (CEASE) Domestic Violence Program, to be trialled across three local sites in Australia. The new program will trial a focused deterrence approach to reducing domestic violence.
AIC research from 2019 shows that prior offending is a strong predictor of future offending: around 50 per cent of domestic and family violence perpetrators commit a further domestic violence offence within four years. In earlier research, the AIC also found the risk of repeat offending is greatest in the weeks following an incident.
The CEASE Program is modelled on the Intimate Partner Violence Initiative developed by the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College in New York. Drawing on the principles of focused deterrence and in close partnership with other agencies, the program will involve the targeted application of a wide range of innovative tools and tactics by police, to hold perpetrators accountable and deter them from further offending. It will prioritise the speed and consistency of responses, and the direct communication of consequences and avenues of support to offenders. Importantly, the CEASE Program will provide timely and targeted support for victims and survivors.
The CEASE Program builds on years of research by ANROWS and the AIC into effective responses to domestic violence. CEASE provides a critical opportunity to explore how police, in partnership with other agencies, can better reduce the short-term risk of repeat domestic violence, and protect victims and survivors from further harm.
“The focused deterrence approach has had promising results overseas in reducing the rate of reoffending among domestic violence perpetrators, including a substantial drop in intimate partner homicide [IPH],” said ANROWS CEO Padma Raman PSM. “We know from recent ANROWS and AIC research that one in four IPH victims had obtained a protection order during the post-separation period – intervention at this time can be critical to reducing further offending and IPH.”
The CEASE Program trial and evaluation will be undertaken over three years in Australia.
The trial will contribute to the evidence base regarding innovative responses to short-term domestic violence risk. It is anticipated that the CEASE Program will contribute more broadly to enhanced collaborative policing and service responses in Australia.
The CEASE Program trial will also address the research gaps in relation to policing responses that work to better support women as identified in Australia’s National Research Agenda to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (ANRA) 2020–2022.
Details of the CEASE Program can be found on our website.
For further information, contact Michele Robinson at ANROWS on +61 417 780 556 or email michele.robinson@anrows.org.au
About ANROWS
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS) is a not-for-profit independent national research organisation.
ANROWS is an initiative of Australia’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022. ANROWS was established by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments of Australia to produce, disseminate and assist in applying evidence for policy and practice addressing violence against women and their children.
ANROWS is the only such research organisation in Australia.