University of Bristol evaluation of The Drive Project

The University of Bristol undertook an independent, three-year, evaluation of The Drive Project during its first phase of delivery (2016-2019). The evaluation concluded that The Drive Project reduces abuse and the risk perpetrators pose. Key findings include:

• Reduction in abuse: The number of Drive service users using each type of DVA behaviour reduced substantially: physical abuse reduced by 82%; sexual abuse reduced by 88%, harassment and stalking behaviours reduced by 75%; and jealous and controlling behaviours reduced by 73%.
• Reduction of risk: For the duration of the intervention, IDVAs reported the risk to the victim reduced either moderately or significantly in 82% of cases.
• Reduction in repeat and serial perpetrator cases heard at MARAC: MARAC data showed that Drive helped to reduce high-risk perpetration including by serial and repeat perpetrators. Drive repeat and serial cases appeared less often at MARAC than the control group, the difference was statistically significant and was sustained for a year after the case was closed.
• Reduction in police involvement: Police data shows a 30% reduction in number of criminal DVA incidents for Drive service users in 6 months after the intervention compared to Evaluation of the Drive Project – Executive Summary6 months before. By comparison, there was no change for control group perpetrators for the same period.

An executive summary of the evaluation is available to download here.