A CAMPAIGN to encourage the friends of people who suffer domestic violence to report offences has been launched in Wirral and Cheshire.

Across Wirral and Halton, the "Enough" posters and radio adverts are part of a crackdown by the Government on the crime.

It follows specialist domestic violence courts set up in Wirral a year ago, and the Home Office has said the specialist courts will also be set up in Liverpool within the next 12 months.

Detective Superintendent Steve Ashley, of Merseyside Police, said it was "vitally important that society recognises that domestic abuse is not acceptable".

He said victims "do not need to point the finger for us to act". Det Supt Ashley said: "Helping victims understand that domestic violence is a crime has encouraged more and more people to report this kind of violence to us, with the assurance that Merseyside Police will investigate every case seriously and sensitively.

"Domestic violence is a very real problem. We do not intend to let abusers keep their crimes hidden behind closed doors."

Wirral, Halton in Cheshire, along with Wigan and Salford, are the four areas in the North West to have set up a new courts service aimed at improving the way domestic violence is prosecuted.

Initially sitting for half-a-day once a fortnight when opened in March, 2005, from April the courts will run two sessions every week.

The specialist courts have independent domestic violence advisers, dedicated prosecutors, magistrates, legal advisers and police officers who specialise in domestic violence cases, and separate entrances, exits and waiting areas so that victims are not confronted by their attackers.

Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland said tackling domestic violence was a key priority for the Government.

She said: "More than 60% of victims tell someone about their abuse, usually a friend or family member, and we want these people to know that their voice can make a difference to end the violence. Remaining silent amounts to collusion."

Research shows domestic violence accounts for 17% of recorded crime and, on average, more than two women a week are killed by a current or former partner.

Yet conviction rates have historically been low because victims are often unwilling to put themselves through the trauma of a court case.

The chairwoman of Halton's domestic abuse forum, Kath O'Dwyer, said tackling domestic abuse was one of their main priorities

She said: "We are trying to reduce the number of incidents by raising awareness of services available as well as encouraging people to come forward and speak out if they are, or know someone who is, experiencing domestic abuse.

"This is not an incident that affects only women - it stretches across all generations, genders and social backgrounds.

"Our partners are dedicated to reducing incidents of domestic abuse in Halton and improving the lives and well-being of the people affected by it."

liammurphy@dailypost.co.uk