PCD 1462 Drive Extension

PCD 1462 Drive Extension

Drive is an intensive, coordinated multi agency response to domestic abuse (DA) perpetrators to change their behaviour with a focus on increasing victim safety, working alongside and complimenting existing interventions.  

The pilot has been funded through a combination of MOPAC and Home Office funds between 1st August 2021 until 30st June 2023. Drive have now secured funding from Home Office Perpetrator Fund 2023-25, with match funding from MOPAC, to deliver the Drive project model pan-London. 

This Decision is seeking approval to apportion a maximum of £84,500 from the MOPAC’s match funding of HO DA Perpetrator Fund awarded sum, to extend the Drive South BCU pilot for 3 months. This will ensure that there is no gap in service provision while a full contract is being drafted for pan-London delivery. 

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve the extension of Drive South BCU for 3 months until 1 October 2023, to ensure sustained provision of Drive services during the finalisation of the full contract for pan-London delivery. 

2. Approve the allocation of up to £84,500 from MOPAC match funding to extend the Drive South BCU pilot from 30 June 2023 until 1st October 2023.

1. Introduction and background  

1. Drive is a multi-agency intervention programme aimed at tackling repeat and/or serial perpetrators of domestic abuse (DA) who pose high risk of harm and/or homicide to their victims.  

2. The programme was initially funded in Croydon by the Home Office Police Transformation Fund 2017-2020 and was extended to the South BCU through a combination of Mayoral and Home Office investment. The pilot was then extended by three months from 31st March 2023 to the 30th June through MOPAC funding. 

3. Drive have now secured funding from Home Office Perpetrator Fund 2023-25, with match funding from MOPAC, to deliver the Drive project model pan-London. 

2. Issues for consideration  

1. This paper requests director approval to provide funding of up to £84,500 to the Drive Partnership to ensure there is no gap in service between June 2023 and October 2023, while a full contract can be completed to ensure a pan-London delivery. 

2. Due to the successful bid for Home Office funding, the Drive South BCU provision was expected to end on 30th June 2023. However, due to the size of the HO Perpetrator fund (£1,790,932.20) and the scale of delivery, (pan-London) it was decided that a full contract would be needed instead of grant agreement.  

3. Due to the need of a full contract and procurement, timelines have slipped and will likely be completed by 1st October. 

4. To ensure there is no gap in service provision between June and October and a smooth transition to a pan-London, funding is required to extend the service by two months. 

5. Due to the fact that the provision is extending, the extension will draw from a wider pool of referrals, coming from different boroughs.  

6. MOPAC has allocated £674,734 to match the HO DA Perpetrator fund awarded sum. The requested 3 month extension will use £84,500 of that budget.  

3. Financial Comments  

1. The total budget requirement for this extension totals a maximum of £84,500, which will be withdrawn from MOPAC’s match funding of £674,734.   

4. Legal Comments  

1. There are relevant powers set out in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 at sections 17(1) (a) to (c) which place MOPAC under a duty to exercise its functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all it can to prevent, crime and disorder (including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment), reoffending in its area, and the misuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances in its area. The proposed arrangements are consistent with MOPAC’s duties in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. 

2. Paragraph 4.13 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve all unforeseen variations and extensions to contracts with an original value of £500,000 or above, when the variation or extension is greater than 10% of the original value and/or is for a period of more than 12 months. 

5. Commercial Issues  

1. The current contract for the delivery of Drive in the South BCU is a Collaboration Agreement (MOPAC 511-01) between MOPAC and the 5 delivery partners – The Drive Partnership, Rise Mutual, LB Croydon, LB Sutton and LB Bromley. 

2. Drive has secured £1,790,932.20 funding from the Home Office DA Perpetrator Fund to support delivery of services pan-London in 2023/24 and 2024/25. 

3. Due to the scale of the fund and the scope, a full procurement process is desirable for this piece of work, which will conclude by October 1. 

4. As part of the standard terms and conditions of the existing grant agreement, when procuring any goods or services The Drive Partnership must ensure that it follows open and competitive procurement procedures in accordance with all relevant law and policies including the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and MOPAC’s Contracts and Funding Code.  

6. Public Health Approach  

1. This piece of work has been informed by discussions and feedback from the Violence Reduction Unit, the Greater London Authority and the Mayor’s public health approach to Violent Against Women and Girls (VAWG).  

7. GDPR and Data Privacy  

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

8. Equality Comments  

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics.  

2. This programme delivers interventions for perpetrators of domestic abuse (DA). DA is gendered, and disproportionately affects women and girls. This is not to say that victims of these crimes cannot be male however women are more likely to be victims of every type of DA including being three times more likely to be the victim of a domestic homicide.  

9. Background/supporting papers