The Government has set aside £80m to help protect women and girls from violence.

It says a new fund will promote projects aiming to stop violence before it happens, prevent abusive behaviour from becoming entrenched and establish the best ways to help victims and their families.

The fund, announced on International Women’s Day, will help support secure refuges and other specialist accommodation including female genital mutilation and forced marriage units.

The Government plans to work with local authorities on changing the attitudes and behaviours of perpetrators and make sure a range of programmes including rehabilitation and mental health interventions are established.

Karen Bradley, minister for preventing abuse, exploitation and crime, said: 'We are determined to stop women and girls from becoming victims in the first place, which means funding services which will provide support and intervene as early as possible to stop the cycle of abuse.

'Through our strategy we are making preventing violence against women and girls everyone’s business.

'It is vital government, the police, local authorities and service providers work together to help women get out of dangerous situations early, and stop perpetrators from moving from one victim to the next.'