System to rehabilitate domestic abusers comes to Dundee

System to rehabilitate domestic abusers comes to Dundee

A system aimed at rehabilitating domestic abusers is to be introduced in Dundee and Perth and Kinross, The Courier reports.

The Caledonian System is a specialist court-mandated programme working with male perpetrators, which also aims to improve the lives of the women and children affected by domestic abuse.

Offenders may be placed on the scheme as an alternative to prison or other options.

Dundee City Council’s Community Safety and Public Protection Committee will be told on Monday that the Scottish government has pledged £666,276 to back the scheme until 2020.

Committee convener councillor Alan Ross said: “After successful pilots in five areas of Scotland that have been running for the past seven years, the Scottish Government invited bids to a £2.8m fund set up to bring the system to more areas.

“We recognised the high number of domestic abuse incidents in the city and the fact that we did not have an accredited domestic abuse group work programme to offer the court and put forward a joint bid with Perth and Kinross Council and key third sector agencies.

“I am delighted that the government have chosen to support it.”

He added: “We are anticipating that this initial funding will be extended and will allow us to embed the Caledonian System in Dundee.

“It presents an exciting opportunity to enhance our overall approaches to domestic abuse and will be overseen by a multi-agency steering group with regular reports provided to the Dundee Violence Against Women Partnership.”

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