A network of up to 100 specialist courts to tackle domestic violence should be set up to increase prosecutions for wife battering and domestic assaults, the Attorney-General said yesterday.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal, the Government’s chief law officer, told The Times that the move, coupled with the creation of nationwide teams of specialist sexual advisers, could lead to a surge in successful prosecutions in England and Wales. Her comments, timed to mark International Women’s Day, came as ministers announced an extra £1 million to tackle domestic and sexual violence, including rape. “This extra money will help bring more of these courts on stream, much more quickly,” she said.

The Government’s target is for 60 such courts within three years. “The existing courts, there are now 23, have seen a tremendous success rate in prosecutions, running at 70 per cent, compared with 43 per cent in ordinary courts,” Lady Scotland said.

Local teams, made up of specialist magistrates, prosecutors, trained police, and support agencies, apply for funding to set up a court in their areas. The speed at which the courts will be set up depends on how quickly such teams can establish themselves.

“Traditionally there is a real attrition rate for these cases. Women, or men, might be scared to give evidence, or there is family pressure on them to drop the case, so they withdraw. Or the court might be too far from the refuge centre where they are staying, or they are worried about their children.” Officials in the specialist courts are all trained to understand and be aware of the problems and to support witnesses through the process. At the same time, specialist sexual advisers will be attached to courts to help victims alleging rape or other other sexual violence, as well as domestic assaults.

Times Recommends

• The playboy and the Tory party leader
• Bin Laden's family tree is impenetrable jungle
• Paul McCartney