Merseyside has the highest rates of domestic violence calls to the police, it has been revealed.
Figures obtained by the Labour Party show that Merseyside police had the highest proportion of domestic incidents in emergency calls received between April 2010 and April 2012.
Out of 207,326 calls made to Merseyside Police, 43,995 were domestic violence related, just over 21%.
The figures were obtained following Freedom of Information requests, and have provoked fresh demands for a strategy to be put in place to try to tackle Britain’s ‘hidden crime’.
The statistics, however, have shown that there has been a rise in conviction rates for domestic violence in the last five years.
Last week, women took to the streets of Liverpool to make a stand against domestic violence on International End Violence against Women Day.
More than 100 people including charities and outreach groups met at St Luke’s Church, on Berry Street, and marched to Clayton Square.
Liverpool’s Lord Mayor councillor Sharon Sullivan addressed the crowd, pledging to do all she could to tackle men’s violence against women.
Jane Kennedy, the city’s recently elected Police and Crime Commissioner, also spoke.
Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT) also launched a campaign from the 22-27th November to raise awareness and encourage reporting of domestic violence against women.
LHT has a dedicated team who are trained to address incidents of domestic violence which take place in their homes and neighbourhoods, and offer assistance to victims.
Yesterday white ribbons, which are being sold in LHT offices, were worn by men as a pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence to women.
Director of White Ribbon Campaign Chris Green told JMU Journalism: “Violence against women will only cease when men stand up and challenge violent behaviour and a culture that condones domestic violence.
“Hundreds of men in St Helens have taken up the White Ribbon pledge including St Helens rugby team. We are really pleased that they have achieved White Ribbon status.”
Home Office data reveal that more than a million British women suffer some form of domestic abuse, although it is thought many incidents also go unreported.
Additional reporting by Sara Ainsworth