Funding Delays ‘Putting Lives at Risk’, Warns Police Commissioner
Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones has warned that delays from the Home Office in confirming future funding for perpetrator intervention programmes are “putting lives at risk”, with critical services now facing possible closure.
Jones has issued an urgent call to the Home Secretary after the Home Office failed to confirm funding for the next financial year. These programmes, which work directly with domestic abuse and stalking perpetrators, are designed to reduce reoffending and prevent violence before it occurs.
Last year, the Commissioner allocated £11 million for victim and perpetrator services, much of it secured from the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office. While the Ministry of Justice confirmed victim-services funding last week—just three weeks before Christmas—the delay has already caused disruption for frontline organisations at a time when domestic abuse incidents typically rise.
The Home Office, however, has yet to confirm its contribution to perpetrator programmes.
PCC Donna Jones said:
“This uncertainty is unacceptable.”
“These programmes deliver specialist interventions for domestic abuse and stalking perpetrators, designed to reduce reoffending and ultimately protect victims.
“Without urgent funding confirmation from the Home Office, services will close, referrals will stop, and dangerous individuals will go unmanaged and unchecked.
“That puts victims at greater risk and seriously undermines the government’s own pledge to halve violence against women and girls.”
Jones has written to the Home Secretary demanding immediate clarity to protect both victims and the wider public.
Award-Winning Programme at Risk
Previous Home Office funding enabled the Commissioner to support the Multi-Agency Stalking Partnership (MASP)—a collaboration between Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, South Central Probation Service, NHS Healthcare Trust, and Stop Domestic Abuse.
The MASP model delivers psychologist-led interventions for stalking perpetrators and enhanced support for victims. It has received the Alice Ruggles Trust ‘Working Together’ Award, and its approach has been recognised internationally, consulted on by the Northern Ireland government and studied by the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
Dr Kirsty Butcher, Chartered Principal Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead for MASP, warned that withdrawing or delaying funding would remove essential expertise from the criminal justice system.
She said:
“Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare’s input into the Multi-Agency Stalking Partnership is internationally recognised as a model of excellence in stalking intervention.
“Future investment will support: a continuation and expansion of clinical, evidence-based interventions across the criminal justice system; multi-agency collaboration; and strategic leadership – delivering substantial savings to the criminal justice system and, most importantly, safeguarding victims and the public.
“It is right to conclude that, without a commitment to continued funding, we will see the loss of a key contributor to the multi-agency approach – and the wealth of health and risk assessment expertise the team brings, which benefits the police, probation services, victims and offenders. We are also likely to see a higher long-term cost to the criminal justice system, as the root causes of re-offending are not addressed.”
Demonstrated Impact
In 2024/25 alone, MASP delivered:
• 63 evidence-based psychological interventions for high-risk, repeat stalking offenders
• 51 resource allocation panels, processing 632 cases with detailed risk and mental-health assessments
• 9 specialist stalking clinics providing operational advice to police
• 88 consultations and risk assessments for complex cases
• 36 psychiatric liaison or medico-legal assessments relating to risk, fitness to interview, and sentencing
With funding still unconfirmed, these services now face the prospect of winding down. Providers warn that this will mean fewer interventions, fewer referrals—and more dangerous individuals left without proper management.
Jones insists that unless the Home Office acts immediately, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight could lose a critical layer of protection.