An increase in domestic violence over New Year

Area Management Co-ordinator Marie Brown said staff had been working constantly over the festive period to help local women who had fled from violent situations.

Her comments come as it emerged almost 50 cases of domestic violence had been investigated by a specialist unit at the PSNI's Strand Road station over the holiday period, the highest figures for anywhere in Northern Ireland.

"Our accommodation has been absolutely packed in recent weeks and staff have been extremely busy, but we still want to encourage women who need our help to come forward and we will find room for them," said Ms Brown.

"For many people Christmas means a new start at the end of a bad year. Many women realise at this point that they can't face another Christmas in a violent relationship and they come forward."

The local domestic violence campaigner - who was recognised for her services with an MBE in the New Year's Honours - said 2010 would be a busy and challenging year for Foyle Women's Aid who now need to expand services even further to cope with the demand in the North West.

She said: "Public funding for domestic violence organisations has never been great, but it's needed more than ever. What we really want to focus on in the coming year is our children's service. If we're ever going to change things, we need investment in our children. If the government invest early when it comes to children who are affected and start to spend money in the right places at the right time, they can prevent huge expenditure at a later stage."

Ms Brown also said the time had come to provide better accommodation for women and children forced to leave violent homes.

"In this day and age, families shouldn't be living in hostels and there is a great need for more independent accommodation for those affected by domestic violence," she said.

"Here in the north we're dealing with the post conflict legacy and we really want to start providing a wider range of outreach services and facilities. We've always worked across political divides and we hope in this post conflict era funders will see the need to resource us. We certainly have a lot of work to do in 2010 and we have big plans for Foyle Women's Aid."