DOMESTIC violence claims the lives of two women a week and 30 men a year. It accounts for 15 per cent of all violent crime and is the biggest cause of deaths among 19- to 44-year-old women.

The figures make shocking reading.

But a number of projects being launched across Dorset are aiming to reduce repeat victimisation while increasing the rate of reported incidents and convictions.

From April 1, domestic violence prosecutions will be dealt with at a special court at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court, which will be held one day a week.

Cases will be brought by Crown Prosecution Service prosecutors specialising in domestic violence and offenders seen by specially-trained magistrates.

The scheme, also being launched in Weymouth, adds to 25 domestic violence courts already in place across England and Wales.

"Domestic violence isn't like other crime," explained Det Insp Ben Hargreaves, Dorset Police's strategic domestic violence lead.

"For too long we've tried to apply normal crime views - but there are not many other offences where the offender lives in the same house as the victim."

Det Insp Hargreaves is confident the courts will make a difference. The number of successful convictions in England and Wales rose by 14 per cent to 59 per cent from 2003-5 - 79 per cent in areas with specialist courts.

Dorset Police, along with the Dorset Criminal Justice Board, local authorities and other organisations working to combat domestic violence, successfully put in a £40,000 bid for government funding for the courts.

But the money, plus additional funding from other organisations, also finances two new Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) for the county.

The IDVAs will work with high-risk victims to manage that risk through safety planning and ultimately reduce incidences of domestic violence.

Paula Gent is Bournemouth's new IDVA. She will make contact with high-risk victims referred to her following a reported incident to assess their needs and co-ordinate a care plan, working with other agencies to meet those needs.

"Extensive safety planning is something we would also do," she said."Combined with our knowledge of risk and the victim's knowledge of the perpetrator we could pull together a plan as to whether they might need a police mobile phone so they can get help very quickly, whether they need their front door strengthened. It might be changing your route to collecting your benefits, or picking the children up from school, pre-programming phone numbers in your mobile phone.

"Changing locks, changing the phone number if there's harassment involved, perhaps moving, perhaps going to a refuge for a while."

Many victims still live with the perpetrator, but Paula said there were still ways to reduce risk.

"We get them to identify a trigger and work out an action plan as to what they would do if there's a situation flaring up.

"Rather than returning to old behaviour, what can they do to defuse the situation and get out? Or getting help from a neighbour or somebody they trust - we suggest codewords.

"Also it's not judging the person if they stay in the relationship. Some safety planning, even in that situation, will reduce risk.

"There's always a risk where there's domestic violence. We have to assess it and then manage it. The overall aim is to reduce it."

While victims may have to work with a number of different agencies, their needs will be co-ordinated by one person, bringing an element of trust to victims.

"There will be more consistency in development of services for the victim," said Paula.

"Having full knowledge of the victim's situation - one person will know the case - we will be able to advise and shut all areas down for the perpetrator so I think that will help.

"I can't say we'll stop them, but hopefully we'll get to know the pattern a bit more. Hopefully it will reduce the outcomes for Child Protections services as well - if we are able to help the victim manage their safety it will reduce their outcomes too."

Det Insp Hargreaves added: "What it's done is something we've never had before in the country. It's pulled everybody together from the voluntary sector, health, social services, police, CPS, probation, and we've all got one focus in mind.

"What we've got now is an unbroken line of all the agencies pushing the offender into a corner. One of the biggest feelings for a victim is isolation. We are breaking that down, calling time out for perpetrators."

  • Victims of domestic violence, as well as friends and family members, can call the Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Violence confidential helpline on 0808 2000 247, Dorset Police on 01202 222222 or the Enough helpline on 0845 122 8609.