PROBATION chiefs are launching a new scheme to tackle domestic abuse across North Yorkshire.

The Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme is a group scheme, approved by the Home Office, for convicted offenders which focuses on concepts like control and misuse of power.

While undertaking it, offenders are expected to talk openly about their behaviour to the group and listen to other offenders' experiences.

Along with the educational content of the course, it has already been proven to help violent men recognise the impact of their abuse, take responsibility for their actions and eventually stop their violent behaviour.

The programme is based on a co- ordinated effort by a number of agencies, including the police, and requires co-operation between all the criminal justice agencies.

It also has a number of links to the voluntary sector, various women's groups and charities such as Victim Support.

Senior probation officer Jonathan Martin, said: "The programme puts victim safety firmly at the top of the agenda, and is based on a co-ordinated effort by ourselves and other agencies to provide a demanding sentence that will tackle domestic violence.

"The course addresses both physical and psychological abuse, which can include isolation from friends and family, sexual abuse, public humiliation or actual physical violence."

Violence in the home accounts for nearly a quarter of all violent crime and costs lives every week.

It is estimated that a quarter of all women have experienced domestic violence and when a man is violent to his partner there is a 70 per cent chance he will also be violent to his children.

In 68 per cent of cases, children witness the assaults on their mother. Every week in the UK two women are killed by current or ex-partners.