A DAMNING report has suggested that Swindon Council needs to do more to raise awareness of domestic violence.

In a report compiled by Coun Kevin Parry, the chairman of the Safer And Stronger Overview And Scrutiny Committee, it is suggested that the council has no idea how big the problem of domestic abuse is in the borough.

Figures show that in 2009/10 there were 2,915 reported incidents of domestic abuse in the town and 3,900 children were involved in some way in the reported incidents.

In the report, to be discussed at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Coun Parry states: “The committee’s initial conclusions from this first evidence session were that domestic abuse is a serious problem across the borough.

“The committee admitted to having no idea that there would be so many reported incidents in Swindon alone and that domestic abuse would affect so many of our constituents.

“As a result of this feeling, we admitted that we were shocked therefore that domestic abuse has not been a more central issue within the council and has not been more prominent in our 2010 Promises and other strategic work such as the Local Area Agreement.

“The committee thought it would be fair to say that the majority of members of this committee were perhaps unaware of the scale and size of the problem in Swindon and the UK before this meeting took place.”

Coun Parry also admits in the report, that the committee thought a lot more money would have been spent, and should now be spent, on services providing support for victims of domestic abuse.

The report also says more money should be spent on educating children in schools across the town about healthy relationships .

Coun Parry said: “The lack of a consistent healthy relationship programme and pastoral support system for all schools in Swindon was a concern for the committee.

“Evidence taken from various agencies and survivors has illustrated the importance of education for young people in addressing attitudes and hopefully in reducing future incidents of domestic abuse,as well as ensuring that we provide support and assistance for our young people who are experiencing domestic abuse.

“The further news that school budgets are going to come under increasing pressure which could affect programmes such as pastoral support caused further alarm.”

Coun Parry concludes his report by suggesting a series of recommendations he feels the council should adopt.

They include establishing a senior officer within the council to work exclusively on domestic abuse issues; giving greater prominence and publicity to the issue through the cabinet and One Swindon and reviewing the situation in March 2012.

The report will be discussed at the council meeting on Wednesday.