West Yorkshire Probation officers are holding a major conference today, following a pilot project aimed at helping victims of domestic abuse.

The mother of a woman who was shot dead in a Harvey Nichols store by a former partner who stalked her will be among the speakers.

Tricia Bernal, mother of Clare, formed a charity and campaigned for changes to the stalking law, and will give her personal account to the Victim Service Unit conference, which is being held at Victoria Hall, Saltaire.

Laura Richards, a leading pioneer in domestic abuse will be talking about DASH, the Domestic Abuse Stalking and Honour Based Violence risk assessment, which she developed.

A DVD, produced by West Yorkshire Probation’s Victim Service Unit, and featuring actresses and actual victims, which aims to provide information and support to women subjected to physical, psychological and emotional abuse after the perpetrator is convicted, will be shown.

There will also be a powerful visual performance by a theatre production company with young actors depicting how domestic abuse impacts on children in the family.

Heidi Caine, Bradford and Keighley Victim Support Officer for West Yorkshire Probation, said the conference was to highlight victims of domestic abuse for professionals, and followed a 12-month pilot project in the county, which would now be reviewed.

She said: “The pilot project tried to improve services to victims and be more efficient. It has gone really well and we have improved every day contact with victims.

“We hope the conference will highlight the needs of victims of domestic abuse to professionals. They should be aware, but most of their work is with offenders. Victims often get lost because of the work done with offenders.”

Miss Caine said the project had concentrated on women victims, but they were looking to diversify to male victims, which are on the increase.