by Emma Callaghan

A RECORD number of calls reporting domestic violence to police in Wirral have been recorded, as women speak out against their abusers.

And co-ordinators of the Christmas crack-down on violence in the home, Operation Goodwill, say there has also been a significant increase in arrests.

Organisers at the Merseyside Police Domestic Violence Unit are in the process of compiling the results of the 2002 operation, but claim that the high profile multi-agency campaign has succeeded in improving on last year's groundbreaking figures of 536 people calling police for help and 178 arrests.

Dave Johnson at the Merseyside Domestic Violence Unit, said: "We are really pleased that there have been even more arrests and referrals, we now want to focus on how we can maintain these encouraging figures throughout the year."

The Women's Refuge has reported another Christmas where they were full to capacity and Mr Johnson explained that the success of more than 60 agencies pulling together has meant that there were other emergency accomm-odation options for women and children in need of them.

He said: "Forum Housing, which usually house single, homeless people, offered to hold spaces to accommodate an overflow from the refuge and of course there is a cost implication for them but this is a great example of how Operation Goodwill works."

Jan Pursell, Co-ordinator at the Zero Centre, is anticipating an influx of women contacting the centre for one-to-one support, healing and recovery now that January has arrived: "Many women who experience domestic violence remain in the home over Christmas for the sake of the children but every year calls pick up enormously in January."