Each year, West Midlands Police runs a seasonal domestic abuse campaign that urges victims not to suffer in silence over Christmas - helping to spread the word through a mass ticketing drive on the region's buses and trams, in addition to supporting posters and flyers distributed to local pubs, hospitals and community centres.

The ticketing campaign - which runs from this week (17 December) until the New Year - also features a strong warning to offenders that they run the risk of spending Christmas behind bars.

Reports of domestic abuse to the force over the festive season (Dec 1 to Jan 4) have fallen in recent years to 2,694 last year from 4,382 in 2009-10.

However, Public Protection officers fear the actual numbers could be higher as some victims feel pressure to put on a brave face over Christmas and New Year.

Click the link below for useful advice and, if you can't talk to police, contact information for national support agencies and local organisations who can help.