Domestic violence is on the rise across West Mercia, new figures reveal. Attacks have soared by more than half in four years across the police force area, which includes Shropshire.

The numbers rose from 8,486 in 2004/05 to 13,241 in 2007/08 – an increase of 56 per cent.

Nationally, incidents have risen by almost a third from 529,295 to 686,272 in the same period – but prosecutors are only securing convictions in one in 15 cases.

Only 6.4 per cent – 43,970 of the 686,272 reported cases resulted in a conviction in court.

The news comes after Attorney General Baroness Scotland predicted domestic violence would surge during the recession because of the stress caused by financial pressures and job losses.

Convictions of men are up 144 per cent in five years from 18,659 in 2004/05 to 45,484 in 2008/09.

The number of women convicted of domestic violence attacks has risen by 268 per cent in five years, from 806 to 2,968, according to the data compiled by the Liberal Democrats.

The figures part reflect a drive to get more victims to report attacks. But Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: “It is disgraceful that fewer than one in 15 reported incidents of domestic violence results in a conviction in court.

“Police forces have to be ready to bring charges even without a formal complaint from the victim, who is often the only witness. Medical evidence can be enough. The state has a duty to step in to help the victims of domestic violence who are too scared to be able to help themselves.

“The figures also show the growing number of incidents of domestic violence against men, which is indicative of how widespread the problem is.”

In the last year, government action to tackle violence against women has included the introduction of a bill to remove the provocation defence from murder cases; £1.8 million for new and existing sexual assault referral centres and an increase in special domestic courts and independent domestic violence advisors.