FEWER domestic violence offenders are being prosecuted, despite an increase in the number of incidents being reported to police.

West Yorkshire Police charged 267 fewer people with domestic violence offences in the six months to the end of June, compared with the same period in 2015, down by 12 per cent.

Nationally, the figure was five per cent down, according to a law firm which obtained the details from 31 UK police forces through a Freedom of Information request.

Anti-domestic violence campaigner Emma Pearmaine, said prosecutions had fallen by more than a third in some policing areas.

She said: “We urgently need to understand why this might be, to make sure victims are not suffering in silence.

“Victims of domestic violence need to know that they can come forward and ask for help. But I fear that fewer people now feel and understand that help is within reach.”

During the summer West Yorkshire Police arrested more than 400 known domestic abuse offenders before and England game at Euro 2016 - almost a third from Bradford. But it is not known what happened to those arrested.

Superintendent Darren Minton, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “We treat every case of domestic violence as a top priority and take them extremely seriously. We work closely with partners to continually improve our services to reduce domestic abuse and to secure justice for victims.

“Every report of domestic violence is attended by a police officer and where appropriate a crime is recorded, investigated and the victim helped. Officers are now equipped with body worn cameras which greatly helps us in recording evidence, reducing the need for victims to give evidence.

“It is worth noting that relationships between partners and family members are complex and securing the co-operation of some victims to prosecute and obtaining the evidence necessary can at times be extremely challenging, but we have specialist safeguarding staff in all police districts who are dedicated to tackling this crime. The Force also hosts regular publicity campaigns to raise awareness of domestic abuse and the help available to victims. We have seen an increase in the number of incidents reported to us showing survivors have the confidence that we will treat their matter seriously and sensitively.”