The number of reported domestic violence offences across the Bradford district over Christmas has fallen, police have revealed.

Senior officers at Airedale and North Bradford Police said they were encouraged by the latest figures, which show a 33 per cent reduction in domestic violence crimes throughout the division.

Police have pledged to keep up pressure on domestic violence offenders, after it was revealed the number fell from 96 offences between December 15 and January 2, 2009, to 64 in the same period over 2010/11.

The decline in Keighley and North Bradford was also reflected in Bradford South, where abuse dropped by 29 per cent over the Christmas period.

Detective Inspector Dave Marshall, of Airedale and North Bradford Neighbourhood Investigations Unit, said: “Domestic abuse has been an area we have really focused on over the last year and Christmas period in particular. It is pleasing to see the levels of reported offences falling during this traditionally busy period.

“We have employed a range of tactics over the Christmas period, including extra specialist officers to help those who do become victims, and a series of visits to offenders involved in domestic abuse in the past who were reminded of our interest in them, and would act if they offended again.

“Domestic abuse will not under any circumstances be tolerated in Airedale and North Bradford, and with access to new camera technology, we increasingly have the ability to make sure those who abuse their partners will be investigated, prosecuted and punished.”

Increased vigilance to crack down on known offenders and the continued use of technology including new body-mounted cameras all contributed towards the decrease.

Other new tactics included a bespoke service for victims of domestic abuse, which saw specialist officers deployed throughout the division over the Christmas period, when abuse levels traditionally increase.

Specialist officers worked alongside colleagues on patrol to make sure they could respond “there and then” to incidents as they happened, rather than making appointments to visit the victims later.

Meanwhile, the efforts to reduce domestic abuse in both Bradford districts were also backed by a force-wide poster campaign to promote the issue of domestic violence and warn offenders they would face legal sanctions.

Inspector Karen Ferris, of the Bradford South Safeguarding Unit, said: “It is pleasing to see that the numbers of incidents relating to domestic violence throughout the festive period reveal a downward trend.

“In the lead up to Christmas, a multi-agency campaign was launched in Bradford to encourage the reporting of this crime and the issues involved. I am pleased to see this has had an impact.”