DOMESTIC violence costs Swindon firms an average of £5,247,622 per year, researchers claim.

That is the price put on absences caused by partner abuse.

But employers are not the only ones who are being affected.

South Swindon MP Julia Drown was today due to meet experts on domestic violence to hear that the cost of supporting victims throughout the borough stands at £10,908,461 a year.

She accepted an invitation from the Swindon Domestic Violence Forum to attend a half-day conference at The Hilton hotel in Lydiard Fields.

There, she was set to join a line-up of speakers discussing the domestic violence and the options open to employers when it comes to identifying and helping victims among the workforce.

Julie Riggs, who chairs the forum, explained: "This conference aims to discuss with employers the ways of recognising the signs of domestic violence.

"Then they can put in systems to help support their employees and protect their businesses."

Julie revealed that Swindon's domestic violence groups had already been making in-roads into the issues of domestic violence for some time.

She added that the Domestic Violence Forum had been working toward the conference for about 12 months.

As a result of this and the recent research carried out by the Government into the true cost of domestic violence on business, many large Swindon organisations signed up to attend the conference. They included Motorola, Fish Brothers, PMH and Swindon Borough Council.

Ms Drown is a long-time champion of the Domestic Violence Forum.

She said: "This is an important conference to highlight the problems that remain hidden around domestic violence.

"It will also show how, with sensitive help, employees can make a real difference in tackling the all too frequent problems that people experience."

The MP was due to give an introductory speech.

Another scheduled speaker was Jenni Manners, who manages the Swindon Women's Refuge.