The campaign will run through December and January

The two-month "End The Silence" campaign will run through December and January - the months when reports to the police of abuse traditionally rise.

The force has pledged to bring more offenders before the courts and reduce the trend to allow a "cooling off" period in police cells.

Chief constable Mike Craik said the level of domestic abuse was "shameful".

The force has commissioned a training DVD to help frontline officers deal more effectively with domestic abuse.

Mr Craik said: "We are raising our game against people who commit domestic abuse.

Women terrorised

"It's a crime which goes unreported and is not talked about. It happens between people of all ages and same sex partners as well as men and women in traditional relationships."

Research shows an average victim will have suffered 35 incidents of abuse before reporting anything to police. Two women die every week in the UK as a result of domestic abuse.

Mr Craik added: "Domestic abuse is a serious crime, it's about people, mostly women, being terrorised, raped and murdered.

"It's about children witnessing and suffering things which should never be a part of childhood.

"These early experiences can have an untold negative impact on their future behaviour and health.

"Even if victims are reluctant to make statements, a prosecution could go ahead if there is other supporting evidence."