AN initiative is to be launched to combat a worrying rise in domestic violence in Darlington.

The plan for the Reduce Violence Against Women project follows a 40 per cent rise in the number of cases of domestic violence in the town over the past two years.

The scheme will be co-ordinated by the Darlington Domestic Violence Forum, which is meeting with dozens of agencies in the area to encourage them to support the initiative.

The forum has carried out a series of initiatives to raise people's awareness of the problem of domestic violence.

A rigorous advertising campaign was launched by the forum, in which posters were put up around the town, with Darlington Borough Council providing financial help for publicity to be placed on their fleet of refuse lorries.

After an award of more than £310,000 from the Home Office last year, the forum has also provided better security for victims, who are experiencing further abuse and violence even after leaving their partners and setting up new homes.

With the help of Darlington police, extra panic alarms have been set up in victims' homes, which can alert police automatically.

The grant has also been used to provide better lighting at some victims' homes.

The latest statistics to be released, which were compiled by the police, show there was an increase in reported cases of domestic violence from 109 in December 1999, to 150 last December.

There has also been a disturbing increase in the number of cases of domestic violence in the town during the World Cup.

Claire Seymour, co-ordinator of the forum, who is employed by the NSPCC, said they wanted the initiative to bring greater awareness to domestic violence.

She said: "Although we will not be launching the initiative until later in the year, we want people to be aware that we are making strides in improving awareness.

"We will be working closely with businesses and schools in the town, and we are already getting agencies to work together.

"When I took up my post in 1999, women who were experiencing domestic violence were contacting as many as 35 agencies before they were getting help. The initiative is about working together.