DOMESTIC violence is costing Swindon more than £10 million a year more than half of which is being borne by the town's employers.

This is according to a report entitled The Cost of Domestic Violence, compiled by Jenni Manners of the Swindon Women's Refuge.

The cost is split into 10 areas, taking into account everything from the cost to the criminal justice system to social services and housing.

Ms Manners said: "The Cost of Domestic Violence was devised to show that domestic violence costs a variety of agencies, organisations and society a substantial sum every year.

"It is hoped these shocking statistics will persuade agencies which already finance the aftermath of domestic violence to invest to save long-term, in other words to finance preventative work which will, in the medium to long term, save money and more importantly save lives."

The report states that 25 per cent of reported violent crime is wife assault, and that domestic violence can occur regardless of age, class, sexual orientation, educational background or level of income.

In January alone, 271 cases of domestic violence were reported to police, and Detective Chief Inspector Norman McKeaveney said that the police now have a policy of arrest.

He said: "Today's domestic violence victim might be tomorrow's murder victim. By positive action at an early stage it is hoped to break the cycle of violence and protect the victims from further abuse."

Julie Riggs, chair of the Swindon Domestic Violence Forum, said: "The council takes its role very seriously and works with agencies such as the police, the education department and the health services.

"It is because all these organisations have worked together that we have been able to change attitudes of the last two or three decades and we hope that in time people with the right information and support will not have to become victims."

Dennis Grant, chief executive of the Swindon Chamber of Commerce, said: "It does not surprise me that the figures are so high because regretfully domestic violence is one of the main reasons for absence in the workplace.

"Sometimes people have time off because of serious injury but more often it is because of a broken nose or a bruised face, and figures for this largely go unrecorded because the police are not involved.

"The only thing we can do as employers is to raise our level of awareness, not unlike teachers being aware of child abuse, not necessarily to interfere but to be aware there is a problem there. Employers have a duty of care that extends beyond the workplace."