A scheme aimed at improving the way police deal with victims of domestic violence is being piloted in Kirklees this month.

The six-month project, covering Dewsbury and Huddersfield police divisions, will run until the end of December, covering periods when reports of domestic violence cases go up - the summer holidays and over the Christmas period.

The project introduces the use of good-quality instant photographs taken by scenes of crime officers in domestic violence cases. These are made available to investigating officers which can then be used in interviews, by the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts.

The system is aimed at making officers' jobs easier and more efficient, as at the moment the use of photographic evidence in crime investigations varies across the force.

"We are one of the first police forces in the country to try this scheme. The aim is to gather, preserve and present the best evidence to the court to prove or disprove offences involving domestic violence," said Sergeant Nicola Heppenstall of the force's Community Safety Team.

At the end of the project, the process will be evaluated with a view to adopting the scheme across the county.

West Yorkshire Police had over 26,000 incidents of domestic violence reported last year. Nationally two women die from domestic violence every week and domestic violence accounts for a third of all violent crime.