A LEADING campaigner on domestic violence has been appointed to help improve the way police deal with abuse incidents in North Yorkshire.

Jasvinder Sanghera CBE, a survivor of a forced marriage, has worked in the domestic and violence abuse sector for more than two decades as an advocate supporting survivors.

She is an expert advisor to the courts in child, civil and criminal proceedings and has been appointed by North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to chair the Domestic Abuse Independent Scrutiny Panel for the county.

The panel works with North Yorkshire Police to review and improve both the investigation of domestic abuse and the support and safeguarding of survivors.

In particular, over the coming months, the panel will review and, where possible, support improvements in the identification, investigation and prosecution of offences of coercive and controlling behaviour.

Ms Sanghera said: “I am someone who has worked for many years to support continuous improvement in the way domestic abuse is investigated and increase the confidence of survivors.

"This role is an important one for North Yorkshire and I am looking forward to making a difference to those who are impacted by this all too often under-reported and hidden crime."