THURROCK has seen a decline in domestic abuse incidents since the council launched a strategy aimed specifically at tacking the issues and providing support to victims.

A new council report reveals that in the past 12 months there has been an almost seven per cent reduction in the number of people referred to a multi-agency safeguarding team compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, the council has seen a 14 per cent increase in the number of victims who have been given help through its prevention service.

The improvements come after Thurrock Council introduced a 'Violence Against Women and Girls' strategy in 2017. Its focus was specifically on women due to the particular prevalence of domestic abuse incidents across the UK, which in 2018 affected 1.6million female victims.

Thurrock council leader Rob Gledhill said the strategy was aimed at making "all Thurrock services accessible for everyone when they are needed" and stressed that the council also recognises men can be victims.

"Despite the increase in greater awareness and understanding, it is widely acknowledged that these types of crimes remain under reported," said Cllr Gledhill.

"It is through the brave victims who do come forward, demonstrating strength and courage in difficult circumstances, to report the crimes that have occurred that we learn from their experiences and voices."

The council is now looking to refresh its objectives in the strategy and this will include supporting relationship education in schools, which is due to be introduced in September this year.

There will also be a greater emphasis on services working together, including doctors, social workers and teachers looking to identify welfare and safety issues.

The council has also added a new permanent domestic abuse interventions manager who began in July last year, with the aim of providing guidance to children's services for cases which are linked to domestic abuse.

Cllr Gledhill added: "We will achieve our planned objectives by raising public and professional awareness, providing early intervention, supporting victims and their families, and assist our law enforcement partners in bringing perpetrators to justice."

Councillors will discuss the introduction of a new strategy at a meeting of its Health and Well-being Board on Friday.