With regard to: 'Domestic violence is getting out of control', (Gazette, August 12), I wish to counter the suggestion that Swindon Women's Refuge blames the police for the increased demand upon our services. I would not blame our local police for causing the higher than usual number of domestic violence incidents since to do so would exempt the violent person from responsibility for his or her behaviour.

Swindon Refuge has seen an increase in requests for help, accommodation and support. This increase is reflected across the whole of Wiltshire and, it seems, nationally. No-one has a simple answer as to why such increases occur. I identified a range of contributory factors including hot weather, school holidays and the holiday period with couples spending more time together than is usual as well as the current high profile given to domestic violence.

I also mentioned the apparent increase of violence within society as a whole which has resulted in both the police and Swindon Borough Council being more proactive in their response to anti-social behaviour. I did raise the possibility of crime being dispersed from the town centre to people's homes as the result of successful policing to curtail crime and disorder.

However for many years, Wiltshire Constabulary has been the lead agency tackling the issue of domestic violence: ensuring more training and information for officers on how better to respond when attending incidents; the introduction of domestic violence units; taking the initiative in county-wide strategic policies and procedures; developing and sustaining multi-agency partnerships whereby statutory and voluntary agencies work together to raise awareness and reduce the number of incidents as well as establishing a Domestic Violence Intervention Partnership which provides services to victims.

I would also like to say that Swindon Refuge have what I believe to be an excellent working relationship with Wiltshire Police.

It is to Wiltshire Constabulary's credit that it gives such priority to tackling domestic violence, and this saves money and lives.

J Manners MBE

Swindon Women's Refuge manager