Women suffer domestic abuse up to 35 times before calling the police

Last year 815 incidents of domestic abuse were reported to police in the county.

Now Powys Domestic Abuse Forum (PDAF) has decided to distribute 160,000 beer mats to pubs throughout Powys in time for the holiday weekend - a period which usually brings an increase in domestic abuse incidents.

Landlords across the county have agreed to give out the beer mats from Good Friday onwards.

Jeanette Stenberg who runs the Elephant and Castle pub in Newtown with her husband Patrick welcomed the move.

"We are backing this campaign because publicans see a lot of alcoholism, which is often the first step to domestic violence,"

"Arguments start in pubs after people have too much to drink so it is important to make people aware of domestic abuse."

Pubs targeted

But PDAF co-ordinator Julie Eyers said the reasons for the campaign were not only alcohol-related.

"I am anxious that people don't think that domestic abuse is caused buy alcohol, it is often a contributory factor but it is not the cause," she said.

"We have decided to target pubs this weekend because more people will be out and about and it is a time when families are together which can often be stressful."

The beer mats show a hand indicating a slap, provide information about domestic abuse and encourage drinkers to report any incidents they see to the police.

Landlords say arguments start after people drink too much

They also include a free information line service for people seeking further information about domestic abuse.

One in four women in Powys will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives, according to police data.

Of the last 22 murders in the Dyfed-Powys Police area, 11 have been domestic-related.

The forum is made up of a number of agencies who come into contact with people affected by domestic abuse, including social services, Women's Aid groups and the police

"This is part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the issues surrounding domestic abuse, and to ensure the victims get the support they need," said Detective Inspector Steve Hughson of Brecon police, who is a member of the forum.

"Statistics reveal that women suffer domestic abuse up to 35 times before they call the police so we want to get this figure down as much as possible."

PDAF was set up in response to the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act and is a multi-agency partnership of Powys agencies aiming to reduce domestic abuse in the county.

The forum plans to extend the beer mat scheme by placing coasters in cafes and posters in doctors' surgeries, hospitals and libraries.