Funds seized from Tate brothers to support project tackling violence against women and girls

Money confiscated from controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate is being used to fund a new initiative aimed at tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the South West.
A proportion of the assets, seized by Devon & Cornwall Police following a civil case relating to tax, VAT evasion and money laundering offences in 2024 and 2025, is being reinvested into community projects. Of the nearly £2.9 million recovered, more than £1 million was returned to the force, with the remainder going to the Treasury.
Working in partnership with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the funding is now supporting a range of initiatives focused on prevention and early intervention.
Among them is the newly formed Cornwall Male Ally Network (MAN), an early-stage pilot programme designed to engage men and boys in challenging misogyny and abusive behaviour. The scheme has received £50,000 in match funding from the OPCC.
The project brings together a number of organisations, including Cornwall Council, Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum, Women’s Centre Cornwall, West Cornwall Women’s Aid, Barnardo's and First Light.
Plans for the initiative were presented to Queen Camilla during an official visit to the Market House in St Austell on 24 March. The Queen, a long-time advocate for survivors of domestic abuse, expressed particular interest in the project’s preventative approach and asked to be kept informed of its progress.
The Cornwall MAN initiative will focus on working within communities, including sports clubs, music venues and social spaces, to promote positive male role models, challenge harmful behaviours and help create safer environments for women and girls.
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: “Ever since my office hosted a ground-breaking disruptive VAWG ideas workshop last summer, attended by around 100 frontline professionals, we have been working with partners to develop the best projects which will create the biggest and long-lasting impact.
“One of those exciting plans is the Cornwall MAN pilot which although in its very early infancy, will radically tackle VAWG by men and boys stepping forward to become part of the solution.
“Nothing pleases me more than knowing that women and girls in Devon and Cornwall will benefit from the funds seized by the Tate brothers whose toxic and downgrading views have no place in society.”
Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police, James Vaughan, added: “Our work to seize these funds demonstrates our commitment to ensuring criminal activity does not benefit those responsible. We are proud to reinvest this money into initiatives that support victims and work towards preventing abuse in our communities with a particular focus on violence against women and girls.”
Kirstie Edwards, engagement manager at Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum, said: “Every single day, women make automatic micro-adjustments to keep themselves safe, from the routes we take home to the precautions we build into our daily lives.
“If we want that to change, we have to shift the focus. Prevention means working with men and boys, challenging harmful behaviours and creating something better to step into. That’s exactly what this project is about.”
The Cornwall MAN pilot is expected to launch formally during the 16 Days of Action campaign against domestic violence in November 2026. Initially set to run for 12 months, there are plans to expand the initiative into Devon if successful.