Telford named worst for domestic abuse in West Mercia with more than 4,800 incidents reported
More than 4,800 incidents of domestic abuse were reported across Telford & Wrekin across a year, it has been revealed.
The town had the highest rate of domestic abuse offences within the West Mercia Police Alliance for 2016/17.
The figures come as Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet looks set to approve plans to improve services so that victims can get the right specialist support.
The scheme, which is being planned alongside West Mercia Police, will see improvements so that women, young people and men affected will get more specialised help.
There will also be efforts to help perpetrators to change their behaviour.
Prevention of domestic abuse will be part of the council's wide ambition to tackle a so called “toxic trio” combination of risks - substance misuse and mental health domestic abuse, which are all common features of families where harm to children occurs.
Councillor Rae Evans, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for People Services, Visitor Economy and Partnerships, said: “As an administration we are passionate about stamping out domestic abuse. This strategy marks the start of organisations coming together from across the borough to prevent it.
“The number of offences in Telford and Wrekin is higher than anywhere in West Mercia, but comparisons are difficult because the demographics of the borough are drastically different to other areas in the alliance.
“The fact that Telford has been a White Ribbon town for the fifth year running demonstrates the ongoing commitment we all have to preventing domestic abuse.
“Through our White Ribbon campaign we will continue to prevent domestic abuse from happening in the first place by challenging the attitudes and behaviours which foster it.”
