Prosecutions for violence against women has risen by 21% over the past four years. Last year in England and Wales there were 91,000 prosecutions and 67,000 convictions whereas in 2007/2008 there were 75,000 prosecutions and 52,000 convictions .

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Keir Starmer, said the rise was due to better training and a greater understanding of victims but continued to say that, “There are many women who do not have the confidence to come forward. And we must continue in the work we are doing to try and give them the confidence. But this is perhaps a milestone in the journey we are on to try and prosecute these cases.”

Victim Support welcomed the rise in prosecutions and convictions but said it still had “serious concerns” about the number of women not reporting crimes or seeing their cases through in court.

“Victim Support helps women move on from the trauma of violence every day – often when they have not reported the crime to the police because of fear, or lack of confidence in the justice system itself,” chief executive Javed Khan said.

“The challenge for the Crown Prosecution Service is to make sure all women who have been the victim of a violent crime can see justice done.”