More than 1,500 incidents of domestic violence were reported during the past financial year, an increase of more than 250 on the previous year.

Det Insp Geoff Tachauer said: “We have worked hard this year to promote the wide range of support available to victims and to encourage people to come forward and report it.”

He said that police had been working with other agencies to raise awareness like White Ribbon Day in November and said: “Whilst domestic abuse continues to be a distressing blight on some people’s lives, we are pleased that more and more of those affected feel empowered to report it.”