The ultimate goal is to eliminate domestic abuse

There were 2,078 in the city last year, an increase of 15% on the year before.

Support workers said action was being taken after previous attempts to tackle the problem had failed to bring the figures down.

Dundee Domestic Abuse Forum chair Elaine Zwirlein said the ultimate goal was to eliminate the problem.

They now plan to try to completely stop violence against women and children in the city.

'Ambitious strategy'

Charities, the authorities and support services have signed up to the two-year strategy.

It aims to gradually reduce the amount of domestic abuse by helping victims leave abusive relationships, rehabilitating perpetrators and raising awareness of the issue.

Ms Zwirlein told the BBC Scotland news website: "It's an ambitious strategy but I don't think it's beyond us and I think we've got the right structure.

"It was brought in as a direct response to increases in the number of incidents reported to the police, and recognises the scale of the problem.

"However, we may well see an increase in the number of women coming forward before we see a decrease."