Duncan Walker BBC News Online

Support is offered to the victims

But a number of projects across the UK have been set up to challenge the perpetrators' beliefs and help them stop the attacks.

Over the past eight years Chris Newman, a violence prevention worker in the west London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, has seen hundreds of men pass through the 24 week courses he helps run.

He said: "For those who stay for the programme, in more cases than not, it makes a difference and violence or abuse is reduced or even stopped."

New relationship

While Mr Newman says the success rate is "nowhere near 100%", he believes many women have been protected from violence as a result of the programme.

Some think that once a relationship is over there's no need to work on their violence Chris Newman

He said: "We often have men who come in and say they have been abusive in a lot of relationships. We need to stop the chain.

"It may not be the case for everyone, but it does happen and people move through relationships and are abusive to a series of women."

'Less violent'

During the programme the men attend group sessions, run by at least one man and one woman, for two or three hours a week.

They look at issues ranging from taking responsibility for violent behaviour to understanding the impact it has on their partner and children.

Most will be asked at each session to report any violence they have used since the last meeting.

Questioning the way the men act at home can also lead to changes in the way they behave elsewhere, Mr Newman said.

"A lot of men say that once they have started they will be a lot less violent in their lives generally."

Victim support

Respect, the national association for perpetrator programmes, says the emphasis of all work on the schemes is improving the safety of women and children.

It says: "Unfortunately, it's impossible to predict exactly which men will change and which won't - or how much."

As a result most schemes also offer support and help for the victims.

"For every man who comes to us we take their partner's number and other workers make contact with them", Mr Newman said.

'State of flux'

Around 50% of those taking part in the Hammersmith and Fulham scheme have been sent by the courts, with many others referred by social services or by themselves.

Many do not make it to the end of the course.

"A lot of people who come to us have their lives in a state of flux - they may have been through the courts or lost their homes," Mr Newman said.

"Some think that once a relationship is over there's no need to work on their violence."

But despite the difficulties he is determined to continue and hopes to see similar schemes set up in those areas where they do not yet exist.