Wiltshire High Sheriff Backs Groundbreaking Domestic Abuse Programme Inside Swindon Custody
Breaking the Abuse Cycle: Open-2-Change Hits Custody Suites
The High Sheriff of Wiltshire, Martin Nye, has paid a powerful visit to Swindon’s Gablecross custody unit to champion the innovative Open-2-Change programme. Since January, Behaviour Change Workers from Society Without Abuse have been working directly with domestic abuse suspects on the spot, offering them a chance to confront and alter their behaviour at its lowest point – right after their arrest.
Forty offenders have already been triaged and engaged in this pioneering intervention, part of the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) partnership. The initiative spans Swindon, Bath, and North East Somerset, supported by National Lottery funding that places specialist workers inside custody suites. These workers not only help offenders tackle substance misuse, anger, and housing issues but also provide vital support to police and the victims’ families.
Inside the Intervention: Meetings That Matter
On Monday, 22 September, the High Sheriff met with Open-2-Change staff, Wiltshire Police’s domestic abuse lead Detective Inspector Lou Morley, and the Offender Management team. He heard how early intervention shapes safer futures, with safety plans crafted before release and tailored help offered to offenders right at the custody stage.
Detective Inspector Lou Morley said: “No one wants to be a perpetrator. We all imagine being in a loving relationship, and those who cause harm are often overlooked as partner agencies and police focus on supporting the victim. By placing Behaviour Change Workers in custody, we can reach perpetrators at the earliest opportunity and offer them the tools to change their behaviour. Many DA perpetrators grew up in homes where violence was present and may be suffering from trauma. This may be the first time they’ve been asked how they are—and truly listened to.”
Louisa Wrighton, Open-2-Change Manager, added: “If we are to break the cycle of domestic abuse we need to get to the root cause of the issue and that’s the people who are carrying out these harmful behaviours. Our one-to-one programme has been working across Swindon since 2019 and to now be able to work with Wiltshire Police inside the custody suite at Gablecross means we can directly reach the people who would benefit most from our support at the earlier opportunity. We can then work with them to identify the reasons why they behaved as they did, and then help them to learn from and adapt their behaviours. This then has a positive impact on future relationships as well as the potential to reduce reoffending.”
A Multi-Angle Assault on Domestic Abuse
Open-2-Change isn’t working alone. Another local charity, Fear Free, runs a complementary scheme in Wiltshire, addressing the needs of both victims and perpetrators. Together, these efforts mark a fresh, multi-pronged strategy attacking domestic abuse right where it starts – in custody cells.
The goal is crystal clear: to turn the tide on domestic abuse through early intervention, rehab, and prevention, transforming offenders before they can strike again.
