Those cowardly bullies who inflict violence and suffering on members of their own households have long felt able to get away with their vicious assaults because - correctly, in most cases - they were confident their victims would never go to the police.

But times - and laws - are changing, and more and more domestic violence sufferers in Bradford are seeing their attackers brought to justice.

New measures make it easier for the police to secure convictions even if the victim is simply too terrified to testify in court.

Of course, there is nothing more helpful for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service than a victim who is willing to stand up and be counted.

The new ruling, which allows so-called "hearsay" evidence to be used in court, has seen conviction failure rates in domestic cases fall from 50 per cent to 33 per cent in the Bradford South area alone.

The CPS, working with the police, is making great strides in tackling the scourge of domestic violence, and with police officers being encouraged to record their own observations - such as injuries they have seen on victims when taking statements - it seems that the law is evolving with intelligence and compassion.

Domestic violence is ugly but also needs to be sensitively handled, and the message sent to those who commit these crimes is a clear and vital one of zero tolerance.