DOMESTIC violence costs Devon and Cornwall nearly £700 million a year, according to a new report, writes WMN chief reporter Andy Greenwood.

The financial impact of abuse, including that on the criminal justice system, health service and the economy, is laid bare in papers prepared by Devon and Cornwall Police and local authorities.

It estimates that domestic violence in Devon and Cornwall, which has the highest recorded number of domestic violence incidents in rural England and Wales, costs £693 million – about £440 a year for every person living in the two counties.

Based on methodology employed by the Home Office to cost the impact of crime, the largest cost is the "human and emotional" toll put at £518 million and the negative impact on the economy £80 million. The report, which sets out a five-year strategy to combat the problem, also reveals a vast gap between the implications for local health services and the amount of funding provided for preventative programmes and support for victims.

Attacks cost health services in the region an estimated £42.5 million a year. However, the region's primary care trusts (PCTs) put just £69,000 (Devon £43,000 and Plymouth £26,000) towards projects to help survivors and offenders.

Cornwall and Torbay PCTs provided nothing at all.

The PCTs staunchly defended their contributions against suggestions they were not doing enough.

Becky Carmichael, head of health improvement at NHS Devon, said: "We spend millions of pounds every year tackling the effects of domestic abuse and while the sum we spend on prevention looks small in this context, it doesn't quite tell the whole story.

"In addition to the money we put into direct measures to prevent domestic violence, we also invest in less direct measures. Our community-based staff, particularly health visitors and school nurses who are the ones most likely to come into contact with children and their families, are trained to work with women who have been, or could soon be, victims of domestic abuse."

She added: "As the largest employer of women in the South West, we are also looking at a special programme for our own staff. Clearly, though, there is more that we would like to do and we will continue to work with our partners to look at how we have the most impact."

Torbay Care Trust said it contributed to supporting victims "through general medical services, children's healthcare and in supplying the various therapies and treatments that are required".

Felicity Owen, director of public health in Cornwall, said: "NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly recognise that domestic violence has a significant and negative impact across society.

"Health service staff, including midwives, health visitors and school nurses, are involved in assessing and helping patients who are victims of abuse, and those they believe may be at risk of domestic abuse, and work closely with the police and social care.

"Training on domestic and sexual abuse is available to all staff and we are currently consulting on a new domestic abuse policy for PCT staff.

"We are actively engaged in the Cornwall Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Cornwall domestic and sexual violence groups and all domestic violence forums."

Earlier this year, eight Westcountry councils were threatened with legal action over claims they failed to provide specialised services for women suffering rape, domestic violence and abuse.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said there was a "major funding gap" with victims of violence facing a "regional postcode lottery" which left thousands without support.

There were 22,828 incidents recorded by Devon and Cornwall Police in 2006-07.

Christine McKenna, general manager of the Domestic Violence and Abuse Service in South and West Devon, said it received vital funding from Devon County Council but could do far more with additional support. "All of our services are oversubscribed, not just those for victims of domestic violence and abuse but also perpetrators wanting to change their behaviour."

The service worked with about 250 people every month but had to prioritise support to those who were "at high risk of significant harm".

She added: "We do provide support groups but nowhere near enough."