A POLICE boss has vowed to step up the campaign against the “scourge” of domestic violence and called on other agencies to do more to help tackle the problem.

According to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, the extent and nature of domestic abuse remains shocking with seven victims being killed in England and Wales every month.

Mr Jones, a former police officer from Harlech, revealed at a conference in Cardiff organised in association with Welsh Women’s Aid that one in four of young people aged 10 to 24 say they have experienced domestic violence and abuse during their childhood.

Tackling the issue, he said, was one of the commissioner’s main priorities when he took office in May and he found £163,000 to fund the purchase an extra 301 body worn cameras which are said to be particularly useful in investigating domestic abuse cases.

As a result North Wales Police will become the first force in Wales to provide all frontline officers with access to the technology when they’re on duty.

In addition, by January next year the force will have given specialist training to every officer in how to deal with cases of domestic abuse.

But Mr Jones stressed: “Domestic violence is just one example of many where the police cannot deal with the problem in isolation.

“The issues arising out of cases involving domestic violence and indeed modern slavery, child sexual exploitation, and other serious crimes are often much wider than just policing, and an effective response can only be delivered in partnership.

“Local authorities have a significant part to play and it is my view, and that of the Chief Constable of North Wales Police, that our partners could and should do more to support the Police in tackling these serious offences.”

Mr Jones says he wants to see a more “joined up approach” with more work done with the perpetrators of domestic violence so that it can be prevented in the first place.