THREE police forces have committed to a joint three-year action plan with the Crown Prosecution Service Wessex to improve outcomes for all victims of domestic abuse.

Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset police have all been working on improvements since 2019 but this new approach will have the criminal justice process at its core.

The aim of the police and CPS Wessex is to increase public confidence in reporting domestic abuse by removing sticking points at every stage in the process.

This starts with the initial response and investigation of reports, through building strong cases and seeing them over the line, bringing offenders to justice or into programmes that reduce re-offending.

Above all the police and CPS Wessex will support victims at every stage to reduce the disparity between the number of reports received and those going to court.

Kate Anderson, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS Wessex, said: “Tackling domestic abuse through effective investigation and prosecution is a top priority for the police and CPS Wessex.”