MORE needs to be done to highlight and tackle the problem of domestic violence. That's the demand from West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox.

The MP recently tabled a series of parliamentary questions probing the extent of the problem. Answers given by the Home Office revealed that the Devon and Cornwall Police area has the highest recorded number of domestic violence incidents in rural England.

Mr Cox has received many letters on the issue from members of the Devon Federation of WIs, and has supported their Violence Against Women Campaign.

He said: 'The blight of domestic violence affects far too many people across Devon, and the figures I have obtained show all too clearly that it is not a problem that is confined to our cities.

'Sadly, such is the prevalence of domestic violence that it accounts for 16 per cent of all violent crime.

'I fear these figures only show the tip of the iceberg, with estimates suggesting that less than a third of domestic violence even gets reported.

'The Women's Institute are quite right to highlight this issue, and I welcome their latest campaign. As I see in my surgeries, domestic violence causes misery to those who are the victims and is profoundly corrosive of family life.

'Progress has been made in Devon — the announcement earlier this year of four new specialist domestic violence courts was particularly welcome, but more can be done, and I am disappointed that the Government has yet to enact the important provisions made for restraining orders contained in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

'I shall be discussing the issue with Devon and Cornwall Police when I meet them next week.'