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Delivering interventions to prevent sexual abuse and sexual violence

Key insight 06 February 2023
Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness week 6th – 12th February 2023

Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness week 6th – 12th February 2023

#ITSNOTOK is a UK-wide national campaign which aims to raise awareness of sexual abuse and violence. This is something that is really important to us all at Interventions Alliance. The week provides an opportunity for organisations and individuals to come together to engage in informative dialogue and to highlight the support services available.

Latest ONS statistics provide sombre reading with all sexual offences recorded in the year ending March 2022 increasing significantly.[1]

How can we prevent offenders from further harming women and girls?

While anyone can be a victim of sexual abuse, it disproportionately affects women and girls. At Interventions Alliance we deliver a range of interventions to help perpetrators of sexual abuse and sexual violence to break this cycle of crime and to change their behaviour.

We work with commissioners and partners to support rehabilitation, making communities safer. As experts in our field, we offer a variety of activities to break down barriers, gain trust, understand the trigger patterns of behaviour, and build self-belief and confidence. For many ex-offenders, the opportunity to talk about their behaviour was critical in stopping them re-offending.

Domestic abuse is also on the rise, how can we change harmful behaviour?

Domestic abuse is usually a crime committed behind closed doors with many cases not going to court. But for those individuals who have been investigated by the police for domestic abuse, the Interventions Alliance ‘Healthy Relationships’ intervention helps them to understand what a healthy relationship is and support them to change their harmful behaviour, without waiting for a conviction

In an intervention commissioned by Surrey Police, the perpetrator works with a professional to understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in a safe, supportive space, so they can develop skills to manage these better in the future.

David, who attended this programme, changed his way of thinking:

“What’s in front of you is most important, you can’t change what you’ve done but you can change the future.”

David was committed to turning his life around, and with the support of his Domestic Abuse Officer, he paved the way for a much brighter future for himself and his family.

Supporting victims and making communities safer is at the core of our services.

We understand the impact that sexual abuse and violence has on victims, their family and loved ones, and the wider community. Our interventions are effective because they are evidence-led. Research shows that when an individual completes an intensive rehabilitation programme, they are less likely to continue their abuse.

About Interventions Alliance

Interventions Alliance is committed to making communities safer. We work with a range of commissioners and partners to help people break down the barriers they face to living better lives.

For more information, please contact enquiries@interventionsalliance.com

 


[1] Latest ONS statistics show that sexual offences have increased. 36% (70,330) were rape offences, with a 26% increase from the previous year, other sexual offences increased by 35% to 124,353 compared with 92,212 the previous year and domestic abuse-related offences also saw an 8% increase from 845,734 offences in the previous year.