Friends of victims of domestic violence are being urged to report offences under a new advertising campaign launched by the Government, the start of Domestic Violence month in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The ‘Enough’ poster, press and radio campaign, which runs until the end of March, forms part of ongoing Government work to tackle domestic violence and comes alongside the rollout of new specialist domestic violence courts.
Victims often tell someone about their abuse - usually a friend or family member. The campaign urges them, as well as victims, to seek support from the National Domestic Violence helpline.

The Home Secretary John Reid announced that Public protection was his top priority, whether it is on the streets or in the home, and claimed that over the last 10 years figures have shown that domestic violence has fallen by 64 per cent, but said there was still more to do to urge victims to come forward and seek the help that is out there.

There are now more than 60 specialist domestic violence courts across England and Wales. In Yorkshire and the Humber this includes Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Scarborough and Ryedale, Hull, Beverley, Bridlington and Goole. Special measures the courts use include fast-tracking and clustering domestic violence cases so that the courts run more effectively. Some courts also have separate entrances and waiting areas so that victims do not run into their attackers.

Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland said:

Everyone should be able to live without the fear of violence and abuse in their own homes, but we know that for too many people, especially women and children, that fear is present everyday.  
There is no excuse for domestic violence. This campaign looks to raise awareness of the help and support that is available and urges victims, and their friends and families, to come forward and report crimes.
This Government has put into place a series of legislative and practical measures which give greater protection to victims of domestic violence and their children and bring more perpetrators to justice.
I urge anyone who is suffering or who knows a loved one who is a victim of this cowardly crime to come forward and seek the help that is out there. It is not interfering; it is intervening and doing the right thing.