A NEW multi-agency partnership has been launched to help perpetrators of domestic violence to change their behaviour.

The BIG project is a partnership between North-East charities Barnardo’s, Impact Family Services, Wearside Women In Need and social enterprise Gentoo Group.

It has been funded by the Police Innovation Fund via Northumbria Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) Vera Baird, who said: "Tackling domestic violence is a priority and working with perpetrators through an intervention scheme like this is key to the work we do in supporting victims.

“While helping victims to pathways of safety is vital, this is only part of the picture and perpetrators too need help to break the cycle of abuse.

"Taking the step to seek help through a programme like this is huge but can be life changing and ultimately lifesaving.

“Domestic abuse is a terrible legacy for families and we must protect the victims and any children to ensure this crime is tackled and we are going to implement this through education."

The BIG Project was formed as there was a lack of voluntary perpetrator programmes places in Sunderland.

Very often men only get help to change once they have entered the criminal justice system and research has shown that perpetrator programmes do make a difference.

The recently published Project Mirabal Report found many men, women and children’s lives are improved following a domestic violence perpetrator programme.

The researchers state that overall they are optimistic about the ability of programmes to play an important part in the quest to end domestic violence.