Domestic abuse makes up a third of January arrests

More than half of the arrests were on suspicion of physical assault against a partner, former partner or family member

A police force has said nearly a third of all arrests it made last month were related to suspected domestic abuse.

Gloucestershire Police arrested 797 people in January, 244 of them (31%) were on suspicion of domestic abuse related offences.

The incidents include a man who strangled his partner and used controlling behaviour for three years and a woman who threatened her mum with a knife.

The force's chief superintendent said they hoped releasing the data would "encourage other victims and survivors who are suffering in silence to seek help".

Ch Supt Kerry Paterson, the force lead for tackling violence against women and girls, said: "We know that on average victims experience 50 incidents of abuse before reporting it or getting support."

She said the information would "shine a light on a crime which often happens behind closed doors".

'Shock and anger'

Last month, the force released the figures for December, which also showed 244 people had been arrested that month on suspicion of domestic abuse-related offences.

Ch Supt Paterson explained that "sadly", the number "wasn't out of the ordinary" for the force.

She said the majority of the feedback from the public had been "of shock and anger".

A total of 85% of the arrests in January were men (208), meaning six men on average are arrested every day in Gloucestershire on domestic abuse related offences.

Thirty-six women were arrested, 29 on suspicion of a form of assault.

The youngest person arrested was 17, and the oldest was 77.

The police shared examples of the incidents they were called to, including a man who had thrown his partner around, punched and kicked her, and threatened to harm her dog.

'We will come for them'

They also included a woman who hit her partner and threw a can at his face causing injury, and another who is alleged to have pushed and punched her partner in front of their child.

Four men were arrested on suspicion of rape, with another arrested on suspicion of attempted rape.

Nineteen men were arrested in relation to allegations of stalking with fear of violence.

A further 29 people were arrested on suspicion of harassment.

"Our aim is to also show perpetrators that we are focused on targeting them - we won't let their abuse continue, as we will come for them and arrest them," added Ch Supt Paterson.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this report you can visit BBC Action Line.