More than 100 people arrested this month in connection with domestic abuse offences

So far this month more than 100 people have been arrested in connection with domestic abuse related offences.

Last week Gloucestershire Police released data covering the first eight days of the month, which revealed how 55 people had been arrested.

Since then a further 58 arrests have been made, bringing the total to 113 in 15 days.

On average, officers have arrested more than seven people a day, and so far this month more than 85 percent of those arrested were men.

Every week throughout December the Force is releasing details of the domestic abuse related arrests they have made in support of their ongoing approach to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls.

More than half of those arrested during the past week (Monday 9 to Sunday 15 December) were detained in connection with a physical assault on a partner, former partner or family member.

Several victims reported that their partners had strangled them, and another reported that their partner had raped them.

Domestic abuse describes a range of behaviours including physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour as well as digital, economic, psychological and emotional abuse.

A number of those arrested were reported to have been controlling during their relationships, including preventing their partner from seeing family and another had isolated their partner from friends.

One man was arrested for sending abusive messages to his ex-partner, while another man was arrested for stalking a woman and turning up at her home unwanted and unannounced.

A total of 47 men were arrested in the past week - six for making threats to harm or kill, while four were arrested on suspicion of breaching bail or court orders preventing them from contacting victims.

Eleven women were arrested - 10 of them for assault offences, including one for causing grievous bodily harm after she reportedly struck her husband with a bottle.

One of the women was arrested after officers had been called to a disturbance at an address and a man was found with significant facial injuries.

Chief Superintendent Kerry Paterson, force lead for tackling Violence Against Women and Girls said: "On a daily basis officers across the county are responding to multiple incidents in which mostly men are assaulting, harassing or threatening women who are either their partner, former partner or family member. This is completely unacceptable.

"We won't stop arresting perpetrators and working with partners to keep people safe, but we need to expose the prevalence of domestic abuse if we are to change attitudes and behaviours and protect existing and future victims."

Professional support is available for anyone who has an abusive partner – contact Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service on 01452 726 570 or email: [email protected]. More information is available on their website: https://www.gdass.org.uk/

To report a domestic abuse related incident call police on the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency, or if the incident is ongoing, always call 999.

The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them. It is often called 'Clare's Law' after the landmark case that led to it.

This scheme also allows a member of the public to make an enquiry into the partner of a close friend or family member. For more information on this visit: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/alpha2/request-information-under-clares-law/