Force's 'zero tolerance' promise

By Steve Brodie
BBC News, West Home Affairs Correspondent

Mr Moore has led Wiltshire Constabulary since January 2007

Wiltshire's Chief Constable Brian Moore has made a bold promise - he says the county will become the safest place in Britain.

Mr Moore enforces a policy of zero tolerance towards violence.

That includes domestic violence - a crime which has an enormous impact on victims and families.

To see how his officers deal with the reality of domestic violence I joined them on a Friday night in Swindon.

A 999 call comes in stating that a car has apparently been rammed off the road.

We get to the scene and officers attempt to find out what's happened. An angry row has erupted leaving the alleged victim in a state of shock.

Domestic violence is not restricted to the home. The woman is angry and crying and an officer takes her to one side and calms her down.

He notices she is shivering and looks after her while attempting to find out just what has happened.

Wiltshire's deputy chief constable David Ainsworth says domestic violence will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Police speak to the woman to establish what happened

"The consequences too often can lead to very serious consequences like homicide.

"We take all forms of domestic violence very seriously and follow them through."

Domestic violence affects one in four women in their lifetime. It is also experienced by men.

In Wiltshire the force is determined to meet it head on. In the last 20 years there have been 50 domestic murders in the county.

Between 2007 and 2008 Wiltshire police investigated 6,433 incidents of domestic abuse.

But the British Crime Survey says that only 20% of incidents are reported so the real figure could be more than 30,000 victims.

It says on average victims are assaulted 35 times before they seek help.

'Video link'

The police have a new weapon in their campaign.

New specially-equipped courts to deal with domestic violence have opened complete with separate entrances for victims and witnesses.

And in the courts themselves evidence can be given behind screens and by video link.

The new courts have already proved their worth with successful prosecutions up from 69% to 75%.

Many women and men who have suffered for many years will take heart that at last the authorities are taking notice.