Battling terrible toll of violence; COVENTRY CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS WAYS OF ENDING DOMESTIC ABUSE.

Byline: KAREN HAMBRIDGE

DOMESTIC violence and its devastating effects on pregnant women form the basis for a major conference in Coventry.

City-based pregnancy and birth charity Baby Lifeline has organised the forum aimed at promoting discussion among health professionals. One of the speakers involved will be Solicitor General Harriet Harman, who is championing proposals to make domestic violence an offence in its own right.

Chief Supt Bob Minshull, from West Midlands Police, will also be attending, along with health professionals, lawyers, domestic violence service agencies and representatives of charities.

Jaguar Cars is hosting the event at its new Browns Lane conference centre on Thursday, November 27, from 9am.

Judy Ledger, chief executive and founder of Baby Lifeline, said: "The statistics for domestic violence are shocking.

"In Coventry alone, more than 4,500 incidents were reported last year. Nationally, domestic violence accounts for 23 per cent of all violent crime.

"One in four women will experience it at some time in her life. Every week two women in Britain are killed by a partner or former partner and their deaths make up a quarter of all murders in Britain.

"As a result, tougher laws on domestic violence have been proposed and the Home Office has announced it will publish a consultation paper in the spring."

Mrs Ledger added that it was important to increase awareness of domestic violence among health professionals.

"Health visitors and midwives have a crucial role to play. They could be in the front line of recognising signs which may indicate problems.

"As a charity trying to focus on education and training we thought it was vital to highlight this issue."