CITY chiefs in Southampton are set to give the green light to a new plan to tackle domestic abuse.

A report going before senior councillors today says that the city has a “substantially above national average” level of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

The Prevention, Intervention and Public Protection Alliance (PIPPA) Southampton plan would see the city council work closely with Hampshire Constabulary, the Clinical Commissioning Group and voluntary organisations to tackle domestic abuse.

City communities chief Cllr Satvir Kaur says that the new plan will have an emphasis on preventing abuse rather than reacting to it.

It will mean victims can speak to a single point of contact, as opposed to several different agencies, while there will also be greater involvement with community groups offering education and awareness for residents.

The report being presented to the council’s Cabinet today says 5.2 per cent of women in the city have reported domestic abuse or sexual violence to the police, compared to 3.6 per cent nationally, amounting to 4,702 calls last year.

Calls to the Rape Crisis helpline are also increasing, from 1,605 in 2012/13 to 2,611 in 2013/14, while 236 victims reported sexual violence to the police in 2013/14.

And this has a big impact on hundreds of children in the city too – Southampton has more than three times as many children of high risk victims (878 in 2013/14) than the national average of 289.

Of the safeguarding referrals of youngsters to the council in 2012/13, 28 per cent had domestic abuse as a factor.

Cllr Kaur said: “Domestic abuse has been a major issue in our city.

“I recognise that the stats are quite telling. Firstly, it is good that people are reporting these crimes, but it also shows we need to tackle the issue.

“This will be more preventionled, rather than reactionary, and will be a more holistic, joined-up approach.”

The plan will also mean there is greater emphasis on removing the perpetrators of crime from family homes, rather than the victim.

If the council agrees to put £500,000 towards funding the plan today, it will be rolled out in the autumn.

Next year the council intends to shake up the refuge service, which will mean a reduction in refuge places in the city and a greater emphasis on people being able to stay in their own homes with the support of the council, police and other organisations.