A PILOT rehabilitation scheme for repeat offenders of domestic abuse in Denbighshire and Conwy has been launched by police.

North Wales Police set up ADAPT (Agencies Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Tasking) in September with the aim to introduce offenders to support programmes and reduce the risk they pose to their victims.

1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will be affected by domestic abuse at some time in their lives. A report presented to Denbighshire County Council last year found domestic abuse was increasing in the county and that the number of repeat offenders ranged from 20 to 28.

The launch of ADAPT at North Wales Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit was attended by police and crime commissioner Arfon Jones, senior officers and partnered support agencies.

Detective sergeant Katie Ellis said there are existing processes in place to safeguard repeat victims but more onus needs to be put the on perpetrators to change their behaviour.

“This will be a preventative process, tackling the issues at source,” she said. “It is not a quick fix – it is problem solving on a large scale.”

ADAPT will stage a multi-agency meeting every four weeks to discuss the progress of the individuals using the scheme.

“It’s about bringing organisations together, getting repeat perpetrators to change their mind-set and their behaviour,” det sgt Ellis added.

“We want them to work with us to acknowledge their behaviour is wrong.”