GAPS in services for women suffering domestic violence in Devon which have been highlighted in a report part-written by the instigator of the West Devon Women's Aid Outreach Project were discussed at a conference in Dartington this week.

The report by Janice Goodwin, of West Devon Women's Aid, Sal Lodge, of South Devon Women's Aid and Chris Pearson, of Exeter Women's Aid, will be launched at the event at the Dartington Conference Centre which is being held as part of National Domestic Violence Week.

Mrs Goodwin, from South Zeal, who started the outreach project in West Devon last year following the death of an Okehampton woman after a domestic violence attack, said apart from Women's Aid and four refuges in Devon there was very little going on in Devon for women suffering abuse.

'Mid and east Devon have the least facilities — it is very much a lottery where a woman lives as to the services she received,' she said. 'We hope this report will raise awareness so more women will come forward for help and the scale of the problem will become recognised so we can draw down some more funding in Devon.'

The majority of money to fund services so far has all come from the Lottery and Comic Relief and it is hoped the avenue for funding sources will open up as a result of the report.

Since it went online in March, the West Devon Women's Outreach Project Helpline has received 142 telephone calls and nine women have been given face-to-face support proving a definite need for the service.

Mrs Goodwin said a grant of £2,700 from Devon County Council would provide multi-agency training in the New Year. 'Only six per cent of cases of domestic violence cases are picked up, either because people do not ask the questions or they do not know how to deal with it.

'The training will cover the police, social services, GPs, health visitors and A&E departments so they can pick up the signs and support women suffering domestic violence.'

One thousand copies of the report are being published and it will be available on the Devon County Council website. Included in it is a list of the services currently available.

One in four women experience domestic violence sometime in their life and on average a women is assaulted 35 times before seeking help.

The cost of domestic violence to public services in Devon in a year is estimated at £20-million.