THOUSANDS of domestic abuse victims would not press charges against their alleged abuser, latest figures show.

Across the West Mercia Police force area, action against crimes of domestic abuse was withdrawn in 5,523 cases in 2016 because the victim did not support further action. This was despite the accused having been named to the force.

This was a rise in withdrawals compared to the previous year, when the figure was 4,519 cases.

Across the rest of England the figure also rose – up to 164,510 in 2016, from 117,196 the year before.

In West Mercia, no action was taken in 1,953 recorded domestic abuse crimes during 2016 because of lack of evidence, despite the suspect being named. This was down from 2,128 the previous year.

Nationally the figure was 102,295 in 2016 and 90,204 the year before.

West Mercia recorded 10,829 incidents of domestic abuse in 2016, rising from 9,773 the previous year.

Across the country there were 438,349 domestic abuse crimes recorded in 2016 and 393,551 the previous year.

Overall a third of domestic violence cases are discontinued because the victim has withdrawn their support for a prosecution, the figures reveal.

However, in West Mercia the figure is just under 50 per cent.

In 2014, the Home Office launched a new crime statistics framework with 18 and later 21 potential outcomes for recorded crimes.

The aim was to replace the high number of cases recorded as 'undetected’.

Through Freedom of Information, law firm Simpson Millar has obtained figures from 36 police forces regarding instances where domestic violence action was not taken due to lack of evidence or because the victim would not press charges.

Emma Pearmaine, director of family services at Simpson Millar, said: “We cannot ignore the fact that a significant number of domestic violence crimes do not result in a charge; often due to a lack of evidence or a lack of support from the victim who may feel unable to provide this kind of support.

“Victims, and women especially, are often either unable to provide evidence about their abuse, or decide to withdraw what evidence they have presented, because they feel coming forward will put themselves, their children and family members at significant risk of serious harm.

“More resources are needed to identify alternative avenues of collecting evidence and building a case against abusers without putting the victim at risk."

"The first formal accusation of domestic violence is rarely the first incidence."

Polly Neate, chief executive of Women's Aid, said: “With two women a week on average being killed by a partner or ex-partner in England and Wales, it is vital that we take these findings seriously.”