A NORTH-EAST police force has set up six command-based public protection units to improve the support given to people suffering abuse.

The Northumbria Police units will also monitor the activities of registered sex and other dangerous offenders.

Each headed by a detective inspector, the teams will co-ordinate work that in the past was divided between child protection units based on local authority areas, headquarters-based management of sex offenders and only a handful of officers across the force specialising in domestic violence.

Detective Superintendent Mike Jones said: "Children in a house where there is domestic violence are being abused directly or indirectly and people who are abused are often connected with their abusers.

" By putting an experienced detective at the head of each unit, and restructuring our approach, the force is designating vulnerable victims as one of our highest priorities."

Last year, 22,268 incidents of domestic violence were reported to Northumbria Police.

Nationally, it is understood that at least one in four women experience domestic violence at some time in their lives and that more than two women die each week as a result of violence in the home.