Crime rates have been steadily going down in the borough, but reported incidents of domestic crime have risen by almost 22 per cent in the past year.

There were 3,035 reports in the 12 months up to July, compared to 2,488 in the 12 months prior.

Domestic abuse has always been seen as an under-reported crime, and police believe the rise is a sign that work done by officers, together with Croydon Council, is making victims more confident about coming forward.

Croydon police officers work on the enforcement side to bring offenders to justice.

When victims are reluctant to work with the police to press charges, then the Crown Prosecution Service can bring what is known as a victimless prosecution.

Specially trained officers work on domestic violence cases and every officer is given training to spot the warning signs of abuse.

Bridging the gap between the enforcement role of the police and the support available from the council are two independent domestic violence advocates that are being appointed this autumn.

One is based at the police station in Windmill Road, Croydon, and the other one at Croydon University Hospital.

The council-funded support officers are the main point of contact for victims.

They work with them from the point of the incident to assess their level of risk, discuss the range of options available to them and develop safety plans.

Leaving an abusive relationship can be hard and many victims need support during this time, which is where the council’s family justice centre (FJC) comes in.

At the centre, four independent domestic violence advocates, a young person’s violence advocate, a domestic violence adviser and a tenancy support officer work alongside a solicitor and a duty manager to help people move on into a future free from abuse.

FJC duty manager Alison Kennedy said: “We provide a confidential space where they can talk about their experiences and access advice, within one setting.

“This means they don’t have to go from one service to another, or to keep repeating their stories.

“We help victims to access legal advice and housing advice and also ensure they can get specialist support from agencies, such as the rape and sexual abuse support centre and drugs and alcohol services, if they need it.

“It is important to recognise that a multi-agency approach is key to achieving positive outcomes for victims of domestic abuse and their families.”

The FJC is open for drop-ins and appointments every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, from 10am and 4pm.

l If you are a domestic violence victim, help is available by calling the family justice centre on 020 8688 0100 or going to croydon.gov.uk/community/dabuse/fjcentre or emailing fjc@croydon.gov.uk.

And victims and their families, or anyone worried that someone is being abused by their partner can pick up the phone and call 101 to report it to Croydon police.