Domestic Violence Service Review

26 July 2011, 15:35 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Domestic violence sufferers in Leicester have been giving their views on how to improve the services they're offered.

The Safer Leicester Partnership held sessions to ask people who have used the city council's domestic violence services how effective they thought they were and how they could be improved.

The event also included a male-only session. Co-ordinator Ashiedu Joel told Capital it can be difficult for men to come forward so they hoped the session would provide 'a safe environment'.

The idea for the meeting today was triggered by a noticeable growth in cases and the authority wants to be able to get better results and better value for money.

Nearly nine thousand people in Leicester reported domestic abuse to police last year but there are fears there are thousands more who haven't come forward.

Ashiedu Joel: "In Leicester City there is under reporting amongst the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community, under reporting amongst the older persons, also with disabilities there is under reporting".

A former domestic violence sufferer who would like to remain anonymous said she struggled to get help and that there needs to be more advertising of where to get help, she also told Capital more funding, more services and more refuges would be beneficial.

People wanting more information can contact Ashiedu Joel at: ashiedu.joel@leicester.gov.uk.