About 8,000 incidents are reported each year in County Durham and Darlington, but Durham Police hope the measures will result in a fall.

They include improvements in evidence gathering and ways of identifying potential victims.

Its policy has been revised in the light of guidance issued to the country's police forces.

Stronger cases

The forms for dealing with incidents now include a checklist to ensure officers are looking for the right sort of evidence at the scene.

A new risk identification assessment will highlight certain factors which might show the victim is a potential target for future attacks.

Over the last few weeks, experts from Durham's vulnerability units have been outlining the changes.

Durham's strategic co-ordinator for domestic violence Rachel Green said: "We are making these changes for the benefit of victims and children, building stronger cases that will hold the perpetrators to account."