Calls CD weapon in fight on home violence; STAFFS: Appeal over domestic abuse.

Byline: By Justine Halifax

DON'T let friends or family suffer in silence at the hands of violent abusers - pick up the phone and end it now.

That is the emotive plea from Staffordshire's Local Criminal Justice Board as it unveiled a new weapon in its armoury to curb domestic violence.

After the successful trial in Lichfield and Tamworth, where officers download conversations of 999 calls onto a CD, the scheme is being rolled out across Staffordshire.

The recording is played to offenders at interview and has not only led to a speeding-up of the charging and prosecution process, but has also seen more offenders admitting their guilt.

Last year in Staffordshire there were more than 20,000 incidents of domestic violence reported. One in four women across the county are believed to be a victim.

One third of those were serious incidents ranging from criminal damage to sexual and violent offences, even murder.

Staffordshire's LCJB chairman David Swift said: "Violence in the family, or in the home, is an intensely personal abuse of trust that leaves victims damaged and afraid.

"But too many people are still letting friends, family or colleagues suffer in silence because they don't realise how much help and support is provided for victims.

"You can speak to us in confidence directly, or ring the national domestic violence helpline."

Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, Minister for the Criminal Justice System and Offender Management, is supporting the Staffordshire campaign.

She said: "There is no excuse for domestic violence. I urge anyone who is suffering or who knows a loved one who is a victim of this cowardly crime to come forward and seek the help that is out there.

"It is not interfering."

"Violence in the family, or in the home, is an intensely personal abuse of trust that leaves victims damaged and afraid

FACTFILE

Victims of domestic violence can seek advice and support from the following groups:

Karma Nirvana (Asian women's helpline) 01332 604 098 or 24-hour emergency number 0795 285 6859 Male Victim helpline - Monday to Friday 11am-3pm 0800 328 3623 Men's Advice Line for male victims of domestic violence - 0845 064 680 National Domestic Violence 24-hour freephone helpline (run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge) 0808 2000 247 Pathway Project (Staffordshire) domestic violence helpline 24-hour 01543 676800 Staffordshire Police domestic violence officers 08453 30 20 10 Victim Support Helpline 0845 303 0900.