Crackdown on domestic violence: AUDIO

Officers have launched a week-long crackdown as part of a regional police campaign to tackle all kinds of offending.

South Yorkshire Police's assistant chief constable Paul Broadbent said: "We are targeting people who have committed crimes against their partners and relatives.

"This initiative is about tracking down those people that believe they can get away with it. It is zero tolerance.

"If perpetrators think they can hide behind the web of intimidation and fear they weave they are very much mistaken. We will root them out at home, at work, while socialising with friends."

Call handler Ryan Swift trains police support staff to deal with calls from domestic abuse victims.

He said: "It is our job to reassure callers and get them to open up. If someone needs help they use a certain tone. On one occasion I did had a woman whose way of asking for help was asking for a taxi. It was apparent that she wasn't comfortable so we asked her to make simple noises to indicate certain things. We were able to get officers to go to her address."

Mr Broadbent urged women - and men - suffering from domestic abuse to contact police.

The force has trained officers equipped to help victims, and can offer help without victims' partners knowing.

Last year 7,832 incidents of domestic violence were reported to South Yorkshire Police leading to 5,785 arrests. Domestic violence cases are then fast tracked through the courts in six weeks.

To hear some of the emergency calls made to Ryan's team click the icon at the top of the page. Addresses have been removed to protect the callers.