Measures to protect women and girls from violence is to be improved by putting specialists of domestic abuse in 999 call centres.

Last year the police recorded 100 offences related to domestic abuse every hour.

This new initiative aims to ensure calls for help are treated urgently and that victims get the support they need straight away.

The scheme will be piloted in targeted police forces from early 2025.

Meanwhile more domestic abusers are being ordered to stay away from their victims as well as face tougher sanctions.

These new orders will give police additional powers to prevent contact with no maximum duration, electronic tagging and ordering assessments for behaviour change programmes.

If someone breaches these orders they could get up to five years in prison.