MORE than six domestic violence related offences are committed each day on average in Coventry, according to council figures.
Nearly 3,000 domestic abuse crimes were recorded in the city between 2016-2017.
Domestic abuse has been identified as a priority issue by Coventry City Council after a strategy to address the problem was submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board on February 5.
Latest figures show that between April 2016 and July 2017 there have been 2,763 cases of domestic violence.
And a further 4,287 ‘non-crime incidents’ – seemingly low-level or minor events which may in fact amount to a pattern of behaviour indicative of domestic abuse – were reported over the same period.
The council estimates the annual cost of domestic abuse in Coventry to be £34.8million.
This includes physical and mental health costs of £10.4million, social services costs of £1.7million, criminal justice and civil legal costs of £9.9million, and housing and refuge costs of £1.2million.
Additional human and emotional costs are estimated at £60million.
Coventry council’s strategy report says it will “work to better understand the needs of perpetrators and the pathways in place to support them.”
It also says “there will be effective information sharing and referral pathways between key agencies, breaking down organisational and cultural barriers to ensure victims of abuse are identified and protected.”
The council has stated that it will make emergency accommodation available for 24 hours a day.
It wants to develop a communication strategy to provide more informed and effective education strategies.
A council spokesperson said: “Domestic abuse is a key priority for Coventry.
“We are in the process of setting out a new domestic abuse strategy and part of this will look at how well domestic abuse services are approaching the issue.
“Domestic abuse affects individuals, families, and often children, and it is something that all agencies are working together to tackle, but more needs to be done.
“Domestic abuse has implications for social services, the criminal justice system and civil legal costs; housing and refuge accommodation; and the terrible human and emotional costs.”
