Bradford Council has backed a call by the Association of Chief Police Officers for a register of people who commit domestic violence.

Since 1997 anyone convicted of a serious sexual offence has been placed on a register, enabling police and agencies to monitor them.

The new proposal by ACPO would see a similar register set in place for those convicted of domestic abuse.

The issue has already been discussed by the Parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee.

Bradford police deal with 840 incidents of domestic abuse each month. There are fears, however, that the true figure could be twice as high.

Councillor Martin Smith, Bradford Council's executive member for safer communities, said: "The police already keep a register of violent offenders which does include some domestic abusers.

"We would, however, reinforce the message of Bradford's Domestic Abuse Partnership which is that victims, families, friends and neighbours must come forward to report abuse to the police.

"This is the only way that those who are suffering can get help and their abusers can be prosecuted.

"It is important that agencies work together to tackle the issue. The Partnership produced a Directory of Resources in 2007 to signpost organisations to the right help for victims.

"The directory has been distributed to midwives, health visitors and GP practices, the Crown Prosecution Service and family court services as well as community and statutory sector partner agencies."

Surrey Deputy Chief Constable Brian Moore, who is leading ACPO's campaign for the register, said there had been improvements in the handling of domestic abuse cases.

He said: "Police staff are also now increasingly better trained, and the introduction of specialist domestic abuse courts has also led to significant improvements in how we deal with this issue."

Nicola Harwin, of Women's Aid Federation of England, said it had campaigned for a register. She said: "Women's Aid has been lobbying for a domestic violence register for more than ten years now.

"We would also like to see a register that not only logs domestic violence perpetrators with criminal offences but also abusers who have had injunctions taken out against them, to keep track of perpetrators and to help keep women and children safe."