A STRATEGY is being developed aimed at reducing the high rates of domestic abuse in Darlington.

The strategy will work on several approaches and focus on preventing abuse from happening, providing support and protecting victims.

It has been put together by Darlington Community Safety Partnership following consultation with a number of agencies and building on the work of the Darlington Domestic Abuse Network.

A report has been penned for Darlington Borough Council's cabinet group, which meets tonight. It states that the town has a "disproportionally high number of recorded domestic abuse incidents for its population size".

The strategy looks at improving data collection to build a greater understanding of victims' needs and the services they require.

It also looks at ways of increasing awareness of domestic abuse among the general public, especially in schools so, from a young age, children learn about happy, healthy relationships and the unacceptability of abuse.

It is hoped the strategy will bring different organisations together to work in new ways such as agreeing common risk factors to identify those most at risk of abuse and how best to support them.

Research shows that, nationally, one in four women and one in six men will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. The report states that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of reported incidents of domestic abuse made to the police, which could either reflect an increase in the number of cases or an increased confidence in reporting the crime.

Council leader Bill Dixon said: "A great deal of progress has been made in recent years in raising awareness about what domestic abuse is, and the impact that it has upon victims and children.

"As a result of this, we have seen an increase in the numbers of victims having the confidence to report abuse.

"There are excellent services in the town and this strategy aims to build upon that progress and highlight those areas that need more attention. I look forward to seeing continued progress in reducing domestic abuse in Darlington."

A spokeswoman from Darlington Refuge, a home for domestic abuse victims, welcomed the plans.

She said: "It's a way to help more and more people from Darlington. It's good that we have this strategy and have the task group to produce what is needed."

Tonight's cabinet meets at 5pm in the town's Teesside University campus, in Haughton Road.