Victims of domestic violence must not be blamed for the attacks, Solicitor General Harriet Harman has told women in Wales.

Ms Harman, addressing the Welsh Labour Women's Conference on Saturday, said women beaten up by their partners must not be told it was their fault.

Geraldine Palk was murdered in December 1990

"It is time to stop blaming the victims," she told delegates in Newport, south Wales.

"People come up with excuses and say 'I assaulted her, but it was her fault'.

"In some cases there is concern that the victim's reputation has been attacked in court.

"It is a particular problem in homicide cases because the victims obviously cannot stand up for themselves."

Ms Harman's reference to murder victims followed the trial of Mark Hampson, jailed for life last week for the brutal sex killing of Cardiff secretary Geraldine Palk.

Reputations damaged

Local MP Julie Morgan complained to Ms Harman following intense criticism of the way in which 35-year-old Hampson's defence team used Ms Palk's sexual history to fight the case.

Mrs Morgan claimed that in rape trials, victims' reputations were often "dragged through the mud".

"This is the sort of reason why many women hesitate to go to court with cases like rape or domestic abuse - because they, the victims, almost end up being the defendants," she said.

"It is a common tactic of the defence to try to take their lifestyles and personalities apart."

Hampson: jailed for life

The slurs are known to have upset the Palk family.

Ms Palk's brother Neil said: "Throughout the entirety of this trial, we have had to endure the constant and relentless character assassination of our sister.

"Indeed, there were times when we wondered who was actually on trial.

Even the judge in the case, Mrs Justice Hallett, criticised the lawyers for basing their case on what she called a "detailed examination of Ms Palk's private life."

During Saturday's conference, Ms Harman set out plans to encourage victims of domestic violence to come forward to report the crimes.

Anonimity

The Government is considering granting such victims the same right to anonymity given in rape cases.

Another option is to allow prosecutors to apply for anonymity.

Ms Harman said she favoured the latter option, as granting automatic anonymity would allow the husband the same protection as to name him would identify his wife.

"We know there are many women who do not report beatings by their husbands.

"I want to hear if women think it would be easier to report if their anonymity could be protected," she said.

Ministers are also considering enabling judges to issue restraining orders against husbands at the time of sentencing.