About 5,000 children have seen domestic violence in Devon

In 1999, 8,500 incidents were reported to police. In the past year, that has risen to 14,500 - a 70% increase.

The rise is being partly attributed to victims being more willing to come forward to police.

Campaign groups say it is still the tip of the iceberg, but say police are more likely to investigate allegations.

Michaela's story

It was after a visit to her GP that Michaela from Exeter reported her ex-husband to police. She had been physically and mentally abused by him throughout their marriage which lasted more than 10 years.

She said: "I had my head smashed against a fireplace. I had no broken bones from that, so I suppose that was lucky, but strangulation marks he gave me stayed there for a while.

"I remember walking home and thinking: 'I'm going to get out of it. I don't know how, but I'm going to get out of it'.

"So I actually started the final argument, which nearly cost me my life. But I went away in an ambulance and thought: 'That's it, I'm not coming back'."

Police reaction

Organisations which help victims said that such incidents also affected more than just those who were physically abused.

Rachel Martin of the Domestic Violence Prevention group said: "We have 5,000 children in the Devon, Plymouth and Torbay council areas who are reported as witnessing domestic violence. They are the hidden victims."

Changes in the way police react to such incidents is said to have made a big difference to victims coming forward.

Sergeant Alan Mobbs of Devon and Cornwall Police said: "If an officer is sent to a scene of domestic violence, they'll be looking for a reason to arrest rather than not to arrest.

"There are also other initiatives, like officers carrying cameras in their cars to take photographs of the victim which they can use as evidence in court later on."

Police also said that even if a victim pulled out of wanting to press charges, they may still proceed with a prosecution.

Michaela said: "I just hope that people can realise that you can get out of it, you don't have to be stuck in it and you can survive it."