ANYONE who visits the courts will quickly see how large the scourge of domestic violence is in East Lancashire - and indeed across the country.

But those who work with the problem know that cases reaching court are only the tip of the iceberg.

While police and magistrates take punitive action to try to stop physical assaults, and refuges provide a safe haven for women and children trying to escape violence, curing such violence is not easy.

The first thing that is required - just as with excessive use of drink or drugs - is a recognition by the offender that he (because it almost always is a male) has a problem in the first place.

But even when that breakthrough point is reached too often violent behaviour continues because there is no treatment available to change violent ways.

Hopefully a £300,000 lottery grant could change all that in Pendle.

A pioneering 26-week course called New Directions will take people referred by health visitors, social workers, solicitors, doctors and others. All will have accepted responsibility for their behaviour and want to change it.

Hopefully the course will lead to a reduction in the 1500 plus domestic violence incidents reported in Pendle last year.

And if it does it can be used as a blueprint for other areas of East Lancashire and remove the shadow that domestic violence casts over so many adult and child lives.