Violence against women and children, usually by men who share their homes as lovers or husbands, is a stain on society which we find deplorable at the beginning of the 21st century.

All strands of society are involved and it doesn't matter whether you live in Wiltshire or Surrey, the record is a depressing one.

We find it amazing that in Swindon alone the police attend more than 2,500 cases of domestic violence a year which works out at around 50 a week or seven each day. And this is a caring and kind society we live in?

What is more horrific is that support workers reckon that in Swindon, with its population approaching 200,000, there will be 8,500 children who will have experienced violence in the home.

And that figure is obviously increasing day by day.

We sincerely hope that the White Ribbon Campaign, which aims to tackle domestic violence head-on, is successful because if it isn't then the future is indeed bleak.

What the campaign hopes to achieve is to get women to blow the whistle on the abusers and not to suffer in silence.

It's a tall order because in the past women who reported their partners have usually faced even more violence at home.

So it's right for the Chief Constable to appeal to local councils for more money to fight this campaign, She must also provide the practical help to keep the women-beaters out of the home and in front of the courts where it is to be hoped they get their just desserts.