Abuse arrests 'scratch surface'.

ON average 13 people are arrested in a North Wales county every week for domestic violence - and a unit which deals with the problem says that figure barely scratches the surface.

North Wales Police were called to 1,881 complaints of domestic abuse in the Flintshire between August 2008 and July 2009.

As a result of those calls 696 people were arrested, leading to 191 convictions for offences including assault and affray between August 2008 and August 2009.

According to staff at the Domestic Abuse Safety Unit in Shotton, which supports both men and women experiencing domestic violence, these figures barely scratch the surface as an estimated 60% of domestic violence incidents go unreported.

Domestic abuse advisor Victoria Roberts, said: "A lot of victims don't want to report abuse as they're too scared, or they just want somewhere to go where they feel safe and can collect their thoughts, so they go to a refuge.

"More arrests are being made and specialist domestic violence courts have been set up across the country, including one in Mold, which makes prosecution of offenders quicker and easier.

"The estimated cost of domestic violence to Flintshire runs at more than pounds 10m a year."

According to Susan Duncombe, District Crown Prosecutor, Flintshire's conviction rate in the specialist domestic violence court is Wales' third highest.