A REGIONWIDE strategy to tackle violence against women and girls is to be launched today.

The North-east’s three Police and Crime Commissioners - Ron Hogg, of Durham; Barry Coppinger, of Cleveland and Vera Baird, of Northumbria - will outline a 20-point plan to support women and girls who are the victims of violence or abuse.

The strategy, with a foreword from the Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, has been drawn up following months of consultation with local groups.

Figures show 53,500 incidents of domestic violence recorded by the three police forces in the last year, as well as 4,800 incidents of violent crimes against women.

The new strategy will focus on these, human trafficking and sex work, forced marriages and honour crimes, harassment, stalking and also Female Genital Mutilation.

It includes establishing a Police Rape Scrutiny Panel in each of the force areas, to examine cases which have not led to a successful prosecution.

Mr Hogg said: "I believe that we have produced a strategy which can drive forward major differences in delivery, but which most importantly will deliver better outcomes for the victims, hopefully leading to fewer of those as we make progress."

Another element of the strategy will be to identify Domestic and Sexual Abuse Champions, individuals who can provide confidential support to victims in the workplace and public places such as libraries and swimming pools.