Domestic abuse perpetrators' programmes & the Respect standard (deep dive)
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-28
What "Respect accreditation" means
The Respect Phoneline and accreditation scheme is the UK standard for programmes working with people who abuse — group and one-to-one behaviour-change programmes run by councils, charities (e.g. Respect member services) and probation. If a court or Cafcass suggests a "perpetrator programme", accreditation is the quality bar: unaccredited "anger management" courses carry no weight with family courts.
How the court uses them
In child cases where abuse is established (fact-found), courts sometimes pause on contact to see whether the abusive parent can change safely:
1. Cafcass or the local authority recommends a DVPP assessment 2. The programme assesses suitability and motivation (abusers must accept responsibility — programmes don't work for deniers) 3. The programme runs 20–30+ weekly sessions with individual support 4. Parallel support for the survivor — a children's worker and an ex-partner worker keep the survivor informed and safe throughout (a Respect standard requirement) 5. A report on progress/completion goes back to the court, which then reconsiders contact
What the evidence says (honest framing)
- Programmes can reduce risk for some men who engage fully — but completion is not a certificate of safety, and drop-out or denial is common
- Courts are not obliged to order contact after completion; the welfare checklist and risk assessment still rule
- For survivors: your input into the parallel support is essential — say what contact (if any) would be safe for your child
For abusive partners who want to change voluntarily
- Respect Phoneline: 0808 802 4040 — free, confidential advice for anyone concerned about their own behaviour
- Local Respect-accredited services accept self-referrals — this is a positive step that family courts notice
Official links
- Respect: https://respect.org.uk
- Cafcass on domestic abuse: https://www.cafcass.gov.uk
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with Respect, Cafcass or gov.uk.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.