Barking and Dagenham Council is set to launch a new service aimed at tackling domestic abuse by working with perpetrators to change their behaviour.
The Cabinet met on Monday, February 16, 2026, to approve the procurement of an all-age behaviour change perpetrator service. This initiative is intended to challenge perpetrator behaviour and offer support for change, aiming to break the cycle of abuse.
The current contract for such services expires on March 31, 2026. The new service will be all-age, extending support to young people exhibiting aggressive or concerning behaviours. The estimated annual cost for this contract is £228,000, with an aggregate value of £1,026,000 over an initial three-year and six-month period, including an option for a further two-year extension.
Funding for this service will be entirely met by the Public Health Grant. The procurement process will follow an open procedure, advertised through various channels including the Find a Tender Service (FTS), the Council's etendering portal (Bravo), Contracts Finder, and the Council's website. Evaluation criteria will be based on a 70% quality, 20% price, and 10% social value ratio.
Councillor Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing, highlighted the importance of this service, stating, Domestic abuse is not acceptable and is something that we have made a priority to tackle for many years now.
She emphasised that challenging perpetrators is crucial to prevent re-offending and protect future victims.
Councillor Jane Jones, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care & Disabilities, also voiced strong support, particularly for the all-age element. It is about breaking the cycle,
she said, noting that research indicates a need for support for young people to prevent them from entering or perpetuating abusive cycles.
