A unit which investigates and catalogues incidents of domestic violence and offers support to victims has been set up in Mirfield.

A team of police officers based at Northorpe Hall in Northorpe Lane will create a central contact point for victims of domestic violence in Kirklees.

One sergeant, three constables and two clerks will eventually be based at the new centre and will liaise with Kirklees Domestic Violence Forum.

Detective Chief Inspector Don Harrington, who is involved in the team, said: "In the more serious offences the team will go out, speak to victims and endeavour to set up neighbour and family support groups to help them."

Members of the unit also send out warning letters to offenders, as well as messages of support to victims.

"Ninety per cent of the victims we deal with are women," said DCI Harrington. "We received 4,000 cases of domestic violence last year and the figure has been rising every year for the past seven or eight years.

Domestic violence covers everything from physical violence to emotional and power control in the household.

An anger management group has now been set up at Northorpe Hall to which offenders can refer themselves.