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 that domestic abuse perpetrators pose. 

Key findings include:   

• 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 the Drive Project helped to reduce high-risk perpetration including by serial and repeat perpetrators. Drive Project 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 Project service users in 6 months after the intervention compared to 6 months before. By comparison, there was no change for control group perpetrators for the same period. 

• Proportional reduction in high-risk abuse during the Drive Project intervention: Physical abuse reduced by 82%, harassment and stalking behaviours reduced by 75%, and jealous and controlling behaviours reduced by 73%. Sexual abuse behaviours reduced by 88% – however, please note that sexual abuse was recorded as present in a much smaller number of cases than would be expected from national prevalence data (ONS, 2018). In this broader context, this finding is therefore inconclusive. 

Note: The evaluation followed a control group of victim-survivors receiving usual care i.e. supported by an IDVA but with no Drive Project intervention. Findings across both the Drive Project and the control group indicate a strong IDVA effect in both groups. Consistent with other research into effective victim-survivor support methods, the findings indicate that IDVA work is absolutely critical to the reduction in risk. They also indicate that IDVA intervention plus Drive Project reduces that risk even further. 

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