CUMBRIAN charities have welcomed a police report about domestic violence.

The report said that tackling violence against women and girls should be as much of a priority as countering terrorism.

It found that three-quarters of domestic abuse cases are closed early without the suspect being charged.

Jo Birch is Head of Operations at Safety Net, a charity providing a recovery service for victims of rape, domestic and sexual abuse in Cumbria.

She said: "We warmly welcome the HMICFRS report, which shows what an insidious problem violence against women and girls is and how more consistency is required across police forces to tackle this epidemic.

"HMICFRS (Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services) Inspector Zoë Billingham is cited in the press as saying VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) should be made a strategic police priority, in line with terrorism and serious and organised crime.

"We would agree with this sentiment. The report points to evidence that three quarters of reported domestic abuse cases are closed early without the suspect being charged, and how there are considerable variations between forces with regards to police warning future victims who may be at high risk.

"More clearly needs to be done to ensure a consistent policing approach across forces and prioritising VAWG might achieve this."

The report also said that police forces tackle the issue differently across the country.

The report was commissioned by Home Secretary Priti Patel in response to the murder of Sarah Everard earlier this year.

Lee Evans Cumbria's Area Manager of Victim Support, said: “We welcome the findings of this report and strongly agree that the police should use all the tools at their disposal to protect victims of domestic abuse.

“In Cumbria, Victim Support provides specialist support to all victims of domestic abuse.

"Our team has also provided expert training in responding to domestic abuse and work collaboratively with the police, the office of the police and crime commissioner, and other partner agencies in order to provide the most effective response, especially as we are aware of the many challenges and barriers that victims of domestic abuse face when reporting to the police.

“We must all work to improve the response to violence against women and girls, to ensure that victims and survivors get the support they need and are able to access justice in a timely and safe way.”