Two women a week are killed because of domestic violence

The Gwent Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme is the first of eight similar scheme which will be set up across Wales.

Specialist teams of police, probation officers, lawyers and magistrates will oversee the programme.

Last year, Gwent Police had more than 4,000 reports of domestic violence.

Domestic abuse accounts for nearly a quarter of all violent crimes in Wales and England with one in four women and one in six men being victims.

On average two women a week are killed by their male partner or ex-partner.

He put my arm behind my back, slammed me against a wall and broke my collar bone Domestic abuse victim Mandy

The programme covers the five local authorities within Gwent Police's boundaries and its aim is to combine both criminal and non-criminal justice interventions to create more safety for victims and bring more perpetrators to justice.

As part of the scheme, one-to-one support will be offered to victims who will also be provided with support and specialist advice.

Welsh Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration, Edwina Hart, said: "The assembly government takes the problem of domestic abuse in Wales very seriously.

"Domestic abuse must not be tolerated on any level"

She said the assembly government is providing a grant of �1.9m for eight domestic abuse projects across Wales.

'Lie to yourself'

One former victim of domestic abuse is supporting the scheme.

Mandy, who was abused for six years by a former partner, left to stay in a Women's Aid refuge and now works for the organisation.

She said: "It started off with a kick and then the next day you don't want to believe that it's happened because he's apologetic, you love this person.

"And the next time it happened, again you have to lie to yourself a little bit more.

"He put my arm behind my back, slammed me against a wall and broke my collar bone and another time when I said I was going to leave him, he kicked me in the kidneys until couldn't walk properly for three days.

"Each time I went back I thought it was going to be different and I was shocked when it happened again.

"It is like a form of insanity really, but I've got a lot of patience with people who are in that situation now because I know I was there and I know they can get out of it as well.

"But they can't do it on their own."

Mike Tonge, chief constable of Gwent Police added: "I am confident that this will provide victims of this crime with a high quality service along with support and advice from trained experts within this field.