AN initiative to tackle the problem of domestic violence in North Yorkshire has been launched with the help of Government funding.

Three domestic violence service co-ordinators have been appointed. The posts are being funded through the Government Office via the Crime Reduction Partnerships in collaboration with the police.

Fred Callaghan, appointed as a co-ordinator by Richmondshire District Council, has promised to break the cycle of domestic violence in the Richmondshire and Hambleton area.

He believes the only way to enforce long-lasting preventative measures is to work with both the victims and the perpetrators of abuse.

"Previous measures have concentrated on getting the victim away from the abuser, but rather than only offering post-trauma support, we need to provide an effective service for everyone involved, otherwise we will never break the cycle of domestic violence," he said.

Mr Callaghan has worked in the voluntary sector involved in a number of training projects for men and women in prisons and resettlement programmes.

His first tasks will be to investigate the levels of domestic violence in both districts and to set up a data collection system to accurately record reported incidents.

With his fellow co-ordinators, he also aims to implement a cohesive long-term strategy that will effectively tackle the issues involved.

"Any implemented initiatives have to become mainstream in order to be useful in the longer term. Short-term fixes are no good, they just take people's hope away," he said.

"My appointment, and that of the others, is a much needed attempt at bringing the hidden subject of domestic violence into the public domain and addressing a very real problem."