Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers is continuing it’s campaign to encourage people to come forward anonymously with information about incidents involving Domestic Violence in Leicester and Leicestershire by having a stall within Leicester City Market this Thursday.

The stall will be run by volunteers who sit on the Crimestoppers Leicestershire and Rutland Committee, whose aim is to reduce the crime across the area through campaigns, including the one on Domestic Violence, launched just before Christmas.

The UK sees two women killed every week as a result of domestic violence and this type of crime amounts to 22 per cent of all violent incidents.

In Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, the Police recorded a total of 15,800 recordable crimes and non recordable incidents of domestic abuse in 2010/11.  Of these, the majority involve female victims; 22.6% involve a male victim; 30.9% involved a young person aged between 18-24; and 0.6% involved individuals within a same sex relationship.

Working with the city and county council and importantly Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service the aim is for Leicestershire Crimestoppers to follow on from similar campaigns run by the independent charity, to tackle all forms of domestic violence, including honour based violence and violence against children.

Over 50 per cent of known domestic violence incidents see children directly abused, while 90 per cent are said to be in the same room when a domestic violence incident occurs involving others. Males are also victims of this crime, with one in six men likely to experience domestic violence at some point in their life.

Changes in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 provide victims with additional opportunities for protection. This important piece of legislation allows third party information to play a vital role in helping to bring a defendant to justice. As a result Crimestoppers can now play a more active role in asking for information from third parties.

Leicestershire and Rutland Chairman for Crimestoppers, Bill Cullen, said:

“We need to do all we can to stamp out domestic violence in our communities as we have a right to live in safe communities without fear of crime. The other volunteers and I want to make the public aware that Domestic Violence is a crime.  We are keen to work with people to make a difference in their local communities by gathering information on what can often be a hidden crime.

“Domestic violence has a large impact on families, communities and businesses in the city and county so we want to let people know they can make a difference by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by using our secure online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

If you have any information on crime and criminality in your area, please contact us.”

Domestic abuse cuts across all genders, ages, religions, nationalities, races and sexual orientation. Crimestoppers will take information on any domestic abuse situations.”

Crimestoppers will be manning their stall between 10am and 2pm this coming Thursday (12 January).

If you have information on a domestic violence incident or any other crime, please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or fill out our secure online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. You won’t have to give a statement and you won’t have to go to court.