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They’ve teamed up with London Ambulance Service to provide a rapid response service to deal with calls about domestic abuse.

Across the country police receive calls like this every two minutes, and in Barking and Dagenham calls peak on Friday and Saturday evenings. But now victims will be able to contact a new Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team (DVERT), which will include police and ambulance staff.

A team including a police officer, member of the ambulanceÌý service and a trained support worker who will give advice on issues such as placement in a refuge. The team will operate on Friday and Saturday nights between 7pm and 3am.

It’s on a similar scheme which was successful in Ohio, America. Detective Inspector Shab Chaudhri from the Barking and Dagenham PoliceÌý said "Barking and Dagenham Police welcome this golden opportunity to continue to work in partnership to reduce repeat victimisation and prevent domestic violence within our community.

“Over the past few months, police, ambulance staff and domestic violence support workers have worked together, to hold perpetrators to account and offered support to victims and their families.�

He continued “we will do everything we can to ensure the victims do not suffer in silence. Domestic violence is a crime and we will continue to adhere to our positive arrest policy."Ìý

If you or anyone else you know is living with domestic you can call the Barking and Dagenham Domestic Violence Advocacy Service on 020 8227 2133