 Domestic violence incidents make up nearly a quarter of violent crime |
Police in Berkshire have promised to get tough on domestic violence, racial and homophobic crime with the launch of a new initiative. The domestic violence and hate crime unit aims to help victims and reduce crime in Reading and Wokingham.
Nearly 2,500 cases of domestic violence were reported between April 2003 and March 2004. The number of racial and homophobic incidents had risen to 270.
Police now aim to solve twice as many domestic violence cases a year.
Vulnerable victims
Domestic violence incidents make up nearly a quarter of all violent crime nationally, according to figures from the Home Office.
Det Supt Phil O'Neil, who runs the new initiative said: "The expanded unit will vastly improve arrest and detection rates and is expected to more than double the domestic violence crimes solved in a year.
"At the same time we will focus on tackling crime related to racially motivated and homophobic attacks, which has increased in the last year."
The unit hopes to encourage vulnerable victims to come forward, while reducing the number of repeat victims of abusive partners.
It will also help the victims to get in contact with local support groups.
Police officers will attend Crossing Bridges, a centre for victims of domestic violence, on a weekly basis to offer support and advice on criminal proceedings.
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