A Devon council is investing hundreds of thousands of pounds over the next two years to help the victims of domestic violence.

Devon County Council is ploughing in �260,000 to run new support services.

They include a new telephone advice line for male victims, three more Women's Aid Outreach projects, and extra training for staff who deal with domestic violence victims.

Domestic violence is one of the biggest crimes in the county, with 5,743 incidents reported last year.

NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INITIATIVES

Women's Aid Outreach projects in east Devon, mid-Devon and Exeter A telephone advice line for male victims of domestic violence A three-month training project pilot for people whose daily jobs bring them face-to-face with victims

The new initiatives have been introduced with the help of the Devon Strategic Partnership - a group of organisations which includes the council.

Through an investment programme of �1m, the partnership has set targets to reduce the levels of domestic violence and repeat victimisation.

It will also make it easier for victims to report the crime to authorities.

Independent research, commissioned by the council and Devon and Cornwall Police, has estimated the annual cost of the crime to public agencies is �18m.

Good work

Councillor Jill Owen, who chairs Devon's Domestic Violence Task Group, said more needs to be done to support victims of this crime.

"Good work is being done in Devon, but it is clear we need to do much, much more," she said.

"Our strategy sets out a cross-agency approach to domestic violence in the county.

"Its implementation will challenge existing roles and ways of working, but this is essential if we are to reduce the costly consequences of domestic violence."