A new team of dedicated police officers to tackle domestic violence has been set up in the Odsal division of Bradford.

Two full-time investigators will join existing co-ordinator PC Jacquie Smith to concentrate on the crime - which accounts for a third of all assaults across the country.

The officers, PC Joanne Garside and PC Angus Benzie, will support staff in delivering a higher quality of service to victims of domestic violence throughout the Odsal division.

The team will take positive action to deal with offenders and work alongside a range of partnership agencies such as the Crown Prosecution Service.

Divisional community safety officer, Inspector Paul Jeffrey, said: "We are committed to ensuring that all operational police officers understand the need for positive action to be taken in cases of domestic violence."

Research has shown that 95 per cent of all domestic violence victims are women, who may suffer up to 35 attacks before contacting police.

In West Yorkshire during the last 12 months, 13 women were killed in a domestic setting, and 55 out of the 86 female murders which have occurred in the county since 1993 have been domestic related.

The officers are to be based at Dudley Hill Police station.

The decision to set up the new unit follows the launch earlier this month of a round-the-clock helpline offering free legal advice to victims of domestic violence.

The scheme, which involves a team of 30 solicitors from 15 local firms, will be piloted in the Eccleshill area of Bradford for three months.

If successful, it will be extended to Odsal, Keighley, Bradford Central and Toller Lane policing divisions.

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