Scores of women packed into a meeting room for the launch of a pioneering blueprint to combat domestic abuse in Bradford.

Police were called out to 8,500 domestic abuse incidents in the city last year and there were five domestic-related homicides, and the Domestic Abuse Strategy 2007-2010 aims to have a multi-agency approach which will prevent and reduce these figures.

The strategy was launched at the annual meeting of the Bradford District Violence Against Women, at the Thornbury Centre in Leeds Road, Bradford, today.

Moira Wilson, the strategic director for adult services and chairman of the Domestic Abuse Partnership, launched the event.

She said: "People are becoming more aware of domestic violence and that it is a crime."

Mrs Wilson said at present many women who are being abused do not report it, and one of the aims of the partnership is to increase the number of people reporting abuse, so they can take more steps to protect women and children.

"By bringing together all the statutory and voluntary sector agencies through the Domestic Abuse Partnership we will be able to work much more closely together to improve services."

The agencies which will be working together are The Safer Communities Partnership - a partnership between Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Police, the Probation Service and Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust - and various voluntary sector organisations.

Many groups in Bradford, such as Staying Put, Bradford Rape Crises, Women's Aid and Bradford Women in Safe Hands, already provide services, but only have short term funding agreements.

The Domestic Abuse Partnership hopes to provide a long term funding strategy which will ensure the continuity of the services.

Councillor Martin Smith, executive member for safer communities, who was at the launch said: "All these agencies have a valuable part to play in reducing and preventing domestic abuse and by working together I hope we can change, and in some cases, save lives."