TENS of thousands domestic abuse crimes were recorded in West Yorkshire last year, according to latest statistics.

Home Office figures show 55,043 domestic abuse-related crimes were recorded by West Yorkshire Police in the year to March - down from 64,246 the year before.

Of these crimes, five per cent resulted in a charge or summons.

Across England and Wales, police forces recorded 851,062 domestic abuse-related crimes - a fall from 911,248 the previous year.

However, the Office for National Statistics' crime survey estimated 2.3 million people aged 16 years and over experienced domestic abuse in the past year.

Sarika Seshadi, head of research and evaluation at Women's Aid, said: "It is notable that while police recording of domestic abuse-related crimes has decreased over the past year, this is likely due to changes in their recording practices.

"Consistency and accuracy in recording across police forces will also be critical in measuring progress of cases through the criminal justice system, and the wider Government pledge to halve violence against women and girls."

She added: "With over one in four women over 16 experiencing domestic abuse in their lifetime, and at least one woman being killed by her current or former male partner a week, it is clear that urgent action towards domestic abuse needs to be taken as part of this commitment."

The statistics also show there have been 353 domestic homicide victims in England and Wales between the years ending March 2021 and March 2023 - including 16 recorded by West Yorkshire Police.

Of the victims, 231 were women.

The figures come as new domestic abuse protection notices and orders, introduced by the previous Government, are set to be trialled in parts of England and Wales before being rolled out across the country.

Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said the new changes will ensure more victims receive the "robust protection they deserve".

The new domestic abuse protection notices and orders  are intended to cover all forms of domestic abuse and, unlike some orders that only last for 28 days, will have no time restrictions.

The orders can include exclusion zones and can require abusers to attend behaviour change programmes. Breaching the requirement could result in up to five years in prison.

The changes will also now allow victims' friends and family to apply for an order on their behalf.

West Yorkshire Police did not respond to a request for comment for this article.