BBC's Bradford On Duty on domestic violence and addiction

The fourth showing of the series "On the Edge" focussed on addiction and the city's biggest social issue, domestic abuse.

During the 60 minutes, there were various case studies of both, each so harrowing as they represented the grim reality of how some people live their lives.

Police addressed domestic abuse in this penultimate episode

Cameras followed PC Annabelle Pryke visit several domestic violence scenes including a potential stabbing and abduction.

The latter leaves her and colleague PC Temour Ahmed with a serious dilemma.

Following reports that a man and woman had had a heated argument, police pulled over a vehicle.

To avoid placing the woman in short-term danger they were forced to separate the pair.

However, the two consider whether this would damage her long-term safety.

READ: Our review of episode three

PC Pryke, who gained a politics degree and worked in the House of Commons before becoming a cop, then visits a mother and son.

The man spends his days laid out on the sofa drunk and occasionally hits his mum.

She said: "He spits and shouts at me for 24 hours a day. I feel unsafe with him in the house."

Police remove him from the property and PC Pryke adds: "Domestic abuse and addiction has made for a toxic situation in Bradford. Issues are just becoming worse."

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe regularly appears on the programme (Image: Newsquest)

More than 77,600 domestic abuse-related crimes and incidents were recorded in the region in 2020-21, an increase of 150 per cent since 2015.

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: "We thought domestic abuse would increase due to the pandemic, so spent £1 million extra on it.

"We need investment going forward to match the rise in demand for these services."

PC Rory Romani has worked in the police for over two decades

Long-time PC Rory Romani took us around the city in his team's pursuit of Bradford's most wanted.

They hunt down a man who has just hit his partner and child. Upon tracking him down, he is arrested over assault and child neglect.

PC Romani said: "Anybody who says it was a quiet night in Bradford, isn’t working hard enough.

"It is my hometown, and my family live here, so I want to try to make it a safer place for them.

"Sadly every other job is a domestic. Every job could be that one where you get seriously assaulted.

"Tomorrow he will be out and go back into the domestic violence relationship. We do our best but can only do so much."

Richard Moor, far right

The brilliant Richard Moor, of The Bradford Homeless Outreach Partnership (BHOP), is seen helping an Army veteran who has fallen on hard times and turned to the bottle.

Kirk completed nine years in the armed forces, participating in tours around the world.

He said: "I have seen so many ex-servicemen living in doorways on streets.

"The depression from having a drink is a killer. I think it is from the tours and seeing women and babies in graves, it is something you can’t get over."

Richard manages to book the 50-year-old on a detox programme over in Manchester, which can cost up to £4,000 a week, in an attempt to deal with his alcoholism.

Despite at first appearing to be a "changed man", Kirk, unfortunately, reverts back to the booze and can be seen with a bottle a month on.

Richard said: "99 per cent of people I deal with have an addiction. They want to change but don’t know how, that’s where we come in.

"Detox didn’t work for Kirk but it has for other people. I will never give up on Kirk."

The figures around alcoholism in Bradford are damming.

17 per cent of people regularly drink at hazardous levels, 66 per cent of those who complete treatment relapse within six months and the budget for the council's drug and alcohol recovery services has fallen by 32 per cent over the last five years. 

The Salvation Army on Leeds Road

A visit to the Salvation Army, on Leeds Road, is also made and we meet 20-year-old Elena who has been the victim of domestic abuse throughout her life.

She describes homelessness as a "scary business" and wants to "discover her own personality" by going to university and maybe studying psychology.

Later on in the programme, Elena returns to the shelter with a man called Edward.

Although all is not what it seems as Laure Doyle, Housing Officer at the BHOP, finds out he is lying about his identity.

Richard and Laure go to the couple, who are sleeping in an abandoned car, to reassure Elena that Clare's Law exists if she becomes endangered.