DEVON and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg visited Tavistock this week to launch a new initiative between the police and the town's children's centre to tackle the rising problem of domestic abuse in West Devon.

Mr Hogg visited the Barnardo's children's centre on Abbey Rise to look at ways of addressing the 'hidden' issue of domestic abuse.

Staff at the centre want to develop their relationship with the police in order to tackle the significant issue which affects one in three people in the town.

Abby Sproats, team manager at Tavistock Area Children's Centre, said: 'We know that domestic abuse is a significant issue within West Devon and that up to one in three people are affected by it. We also know that it is heavily stigmatised and that it is a "hidden" issue.

'We are committed to improving life chances for families and children in this area and are very excited at the opportunity to work collaboratively and tackle this issue which has a huge impact on children.'

Police are currently looking at ways to modernise and support women and men who suffer domestic abuse and one of Mr Hogg's priorities for his time as PCC is to tackle violent and alcohol fuelled crime.

He addressed the meeting on Monday and asked the staff at the centre questions on what they do to help people living with domestic abuse and why it seems to be 'more prevalent in rural areas'.

He said: 'We think the area of domestic abuse is noticeable in deep rural areas and the moorlands. So why is that? Old attitudes to women?

'We want to look at prevention rather than reaction and we should push hard at that every time. We want to work together to draw attention to this because it's a serious subject.'

Recent statistics provided by the Department of Health say that more than 750,000 children a year witness domestic violence and three quarters of children live in households where domestic violence occurs.

Other figures show that domestic abuse accounts for 25% of all reported violent crime; every three days a woman is killed by a partner or former partner and a woman is assaulted, on average, 35 times before she seeks help.

Abby added: 'The range of people domestic abuse affects is astounding.

'We also want people to look at it from the view of the child as we are a children's charity improving life chances. The quicker we can go in and support, the quicker the child is out of a risk situation.

'We at the children's centre really want to break barriers down about domestic abuse, which is domestic and emotional abuse.'

Mr Hogg also met with staff of the centre to inform them of a new victim service in Devon and Cornwall which was launched on April 1 — http://www.victimcaredevonandcornwall.org.uk">www.victimcaredevonandcornwall.org.uk

Victim care was established to provide information to any victim who is looking for help and assistance.

Tavistock children's centre works to support families where their children are aged from 0 to 5 years old. It offers support with mental health, drug and alcohol, domestic abuse, food bank and employability, as well as offering stay and play sessions, messy play sessions, a young parents group and ante natal groups.