HALTON'S year-long battle to wipe out domestic violence will not only address women as part of its core strategy. Men will also be made a top priority by police, the probation service, health workers and other leading statutory agencies involved in the pilot scheme. There will be trained work-ers in place who are sensitive to the fact that men are often too embarrassed to admit they are suffering at the hands of an abusive partner. In the same vein as female victims, they will also be provided with a network of support giving them access to the appropriate services. Figures are sketchy around male victims of domestic violence but the 2001/02 British Crime Survey (BCS) revealed 19% of reported domestic violence incidents had male victims - with just under half of these being committed by a female abuser. The problem of male victims of domestic violence was highlighted in a letter to the Weekly News. The writer, who does not wish to be named, said: 'My son is six foot tall - a gentle person whose wife is very abusive from time to time. 'She cannot control her anger - which seems to build up - and then erupt. 'She lashes out, scratching and kicking etc. 'He won't leave because of his children - worrying what would happen to them if he wasn't there to face this anger. 'People would say use violence to stop her, but he won't. 'The most he has done is push or try to restrain her. 'If it isn't in your nature to be violent or aggressive, what can you do?' The reader continued: 'It isn't easy for men to admit these things - it looks like you're weak. 'This temper was there before they married - I suppose he hoped for the best. 'It doesn't help to say 'I told you so.' | 
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