Police fear big risein family violence in Bognor Regis

The number of serious sexual assaults, including rapes, in domestic properties is also likely to increase because of the inflamed moods among couples.

Insp John Merrick said his officers were preparing to see more people who had suffered at the hands of their partners within their homes.

"The likely effects of the recession on crime patterns is something we are well aware of and we have a strategy in place for the next six months to deal with them," he stated.

"We expect more people to be drinking more at home because they cannot afford to go to pubs and this can lead to an increase in stress within families, especially if they have money problems anyway. This could well lead to a rise in domestic violence.

"The majority of serious sexual assaults also take place within private dwellings. A quarter of them are domestic incidents and there may also be an increase in these offences."

Insp Merrick said the overwhelming majority of rape cases concerned individuals known to the victim.

There were very few incidents locally of rape by strangers.

Many more cases of domestic violence were believed to occur around the town than the statistics reveal, Insp Merrick said.

National studies show victims suffer more than 30 attacks before they contact the police.

But he said he hoped police officers had become more effective in tackling domestic violence.

The station's headcam was starting to be used to film victims as soon as they approached the police as well as any damage to the rooms where the attack took place.

"This will provide better corroborative evidence to put to the Crown Prosecution Service and provide far more impact on them to make a decision to charge someone," he said.

More headcams should be on the way to increase officers' ability to record every such incident they attend.

A special unit to deal with domestic violence cases around the South Downs division is also used at Bognor.

Specially-trained police officers are available to reassure and provide support to the victims.

Another crime consequence of the recession, Insp Merrick said, could be an increase in burglaries and thefts as people sought to make up for a lack of money. This impact was also included in the police's strategy.

The supply of drugs could be affected as well because the price could drop to make it more affordable to users.

But one positive aspect of the economic slump could be a reduction in public place violence. Fewer people are able to afford to go out drinking excessively.