THERE were 3,427 domestic abuse crimes recorded in St Helens borough last year, according to figures from a freedom of information request.

The Merseyside Police statistics also found there were 2,895 incidents of domestic violence.

The number of female victims linked to domestic abuse crimes were 2,585 and there were 751 male victims.

The amount of domestic abuse crimes recorded last year was higher than both 2018 (2,796) and 2017 (2,006).

But there was a change in recording domestic abuse-related crimes which came into effect in 2018.

This meant police started recording multiple crimes in one incident such as harassment, stalking and coercive and/or controlling behaviour instead of just the most serious crime, as was the case before.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Earl, from Merseyside Police’s Protecting Vulnerable Unit, said: “We have seen an increase in the number of reports of domestic abuse across the county over the past few years, which is predominately due to a change in crime recording practices.

“I want to reassure our communities that Merseyside Police is committed to investigating all incidents of domestic abuse, supporting vulnerable victims and bringing offenders to justice and we have had considerable success in bringing cases to a successful conclusion.

“In late 2019, we joined other partners to mark White Ribbon Day which aims to raise awareness of abuse against women and encourage greater reporting.

"Recently we also had a day of action in which we targeted perpetrators of domestic abuse – arresting eight people with a further five people voluntarily attending for interview.

"This work continues on a daily basis across all areas of Merseyside.

“We have also worked closely with our minority communities – including the Polish community – to discuss how we can work with others to best protect our most vulnerable individuals.

“In the past couple of months we have also done a lot of work towards evidence-led prosecutions which in some cases allows us to bring prosecutions without relying on a domestic abuse victim or them having to attend court.

"It means that we are able to use hearsay evidence and body worn camera evidence to support any prosecutions."

Last year, St Helens Council's cabinet member for community safety, Cllr Jeanie Bell, warned the actual number of domestic abuse crimes is much higher than police figures.

St Helens Star:

St Helens Council's cabinet member for community safety Jeanie Bell

At a full council meeting Cllr Bell said: "There’s been an increase in domestic abuse homicides in St Helens, we’ve seen it in the press locally and we know the figures are high.

“But how much of that is being kept within four walls and within our communities?

“It’s widely understood that official crime statistics, they show you reported crime, but they do not show you the dark figure of crime, that which is not reported.

“If we’re ever going to tackle what I think is a social and cultural problem of domestic abuse is St Helens, we need to be open and start talking about it very loudly.

“And domestic abuse is one of the main culprits of that because people are frightened of coming forward.

“If we’re ever going to tackle what I think is a social and cultural problem of domestic abuse is St Helens, we need to be open and start talking about it very loudly.

“We need to start teaching our children about safe and appropriate relationship behaviour and we need to support victims and families and friends and neighbours to come forward.”

Merseyside Police is encouraging victims to contact them for support.

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DCI Earl said: “There is absolutely nothing to be feared by coming forward to the police and by reporting domestic abuse.

"Our message to anyone who suspects domestic abuse is going on is to do the right thing and tell us so we can put a stop to it.

“Domestic abuse is never acceptable and that no one should have to tolerate being treated this way regardless of their gender or sexual orientation.

"Making those first steps and reporting abuse can be daunting and there are many reasons why people find it hard to do, but there is support available, not just from the police, but other organisations too.”

If you have any information on domestic abuse contact Merseyside Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

People can seek specialist support via the confidential 24-hour National Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or online via https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/