DOMESTIC abuse cases have rocketed by 93 per cent in Bolton, according to new figures.

The number of domestic abuse offences reported to Greater Manchester Police from 2016 to 2017 went up from around 2,176 to 4,202 - an increase of 2,026 crimes.

Crime in the town as a whole went up from 2016 to 2017 as did hate crime and police have said the increases are down to new recording systems and improved confidence in reporting.

Bolton domestic abuse charity Fortalice said it has seen a sharp increase in the number of people coming to use its service in the past year.

Chief executive Gill Smallwood said: "We certainly have seen an increase without a shadow of a doubt. We are certainly seeing a lot more referrals. It is good that people have somewhere to go. We run a lot of educational course in schools so children are coming forward. They are seeing what is acceptable within healthy relationships.

"Our outreach support centre is there for everyone for whatever. There is help out there."

Crime in total in the borough went up by 42.6 per cent over the same period, an increase of 9,805 from around 23,016 to 32,821 reported incidents and hate crime also went up by 55 per cent, with 243 extra incidents reported from around 441 to 685.

Speaking about the increase in crime and domestic abuse reports, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Bridge, from GMP's Bolton Borough, said: "Historically the police have investigated to record, whereas now we record to investigate. There is a timely and ethical recording of crime. That is not to suggest there previously wasn't one. Particularly over the past 12 months that has been the push, particularly from the GMP point of view and rightly so. This ensures the correct level of investigation and victim care thereafter.

"I see a higher confidence among the public to report offences during this period. When you talk specifically about domestic abuse or CSE there is a growing confidence in victims and witnesses to report them to the police. That is a positive in increasing recording of crime."

Cllr Jean Gillies, domestic violence champion for Bolton Council, described the figures as "shocking".

She said: "It is absolutely shocking. What is more shocking is the length of sentences they get.

"Am I surprised? No. This is only one reason but the pressure that families are under financially causes and that tension builds up into this situation.

"It is not good. There are lots of things that I would do."

Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton Council's executive member for environment, added that domestic violence and abuse is a "multi-agency approach" and the council has quite a large role to play in supporting vulnerable people.

He said: "It’s difficult for the police , they have seen more than 2,000 officers axed and the service is clearly suffering.

"The chief constable said they were unable to cope with the demand. This is what happens when frontline police officers are removed due to cuts."

The latest figures for the whole of Greater Manchester, which run to the year ending September 2017, show that crime is on the up across the region, with the number of reports going up 41 per cent in that period, the largest increase in the country.

To speak to Fortalice's outreach support centre about domestic abuse call 01204 365677.