A STRATEGY to break the £39million cycle of domestic abuse in Torbay has been supported by community leaders.

Police assistant chief constable Paul Netherton persuaded the Torbay Strategic Partnership to accept proposals to tackle domestic abuse.

He said the scourge of home violence is the third largest problem for the police across the region, affects one-in-10 women, and costs £39million in Torbay.

In accepting the strategy the members of the partnership, which includes, health, housing, council and emergency services, agree to respond effectively to the impact of domestic violence; support community services for victims; and aim for greater consistency of service.

After approval was given, Torbay Council chief executive Elizabeth Raikes said: "We want to hit the prevention button earlier."

Elected mayor Nick Bye said: "This is really exciting and something we should be proud of."

Mr Netherton said domestic violence was the third largest threat in the region.

He said: "One-in-10 women suffer domestic abuse, missing two days a month from work as a result."

In Torbay he said there were about 10 reports a day to police involving domestic abuse.

"Our understanding is people only contact the police after 30 incidents, so by that reckoning there are 300 a day, 15 per cent of the violent crime in Torbay.

"The costs are significant, around £39million in the Bay alone."

Mr Netherton said the strategy covers justice, health and safeguarding children.

He said: "If the strategic partnership adopts this plan it is able to hold its members to account. Our challenge to you is to hold us, the police, to account.

"The challenge will be to hold our side of the bargain and deliver a quality service on domestic abuse."

He said this would mean police would have to pick up cases earlier and prosecute cases more effectively.

Debbie Stark, acting director public health for the Torbay Care Trust, said she supported the case for investing in services, but wanted to know what evidence there was to prove the case and justify the spending.

Mr Netherton said there was no evidence specific to Torbay, but regional data would demonstrate the savings which could be made if applied to the borough.

He said domestic violence tends to increase when families are under pressure, like in the current economic recession but this was not the experience so far in the Bay.