Fiona Johnstone, of Argyll and Bute Women’s Aid, spoke at Helensburgh Community Council last week, asking for volunteers to help and encourage ohers.

She said: “I want to dispel the myth that we are against men. We are against perpetrators of violence. We are never really going to control domestic abuse, but what I’m concerned about are values and beliefs.

“What I’m looking for is for men who have researched this and for them to become ambassadors as it were. “They would speak up and encourage other men to do the same.

“If you feel that this is something that is important to take that on.” Ms Johnstone advised those interested to look into The White Ribbon Campaign - a which involves men in tackling violence against women.

She told the meeting that 25 per cent of all reported crimes is domestic abuse related, which is still predominantly male against female, saying: “Domestic abuse is still a gendered violence as it is still in the main male against female violence.” Sonja Aitken, a member of the community council, raised the point that statistics show the number of men reporting domestic abuse from their female partner.

Ms Johnstone explained: “What we have to overcome is that people are talking about it, that always gives a rise of figures.

“I have had maybe five calls over the past ten years from men.” Ms Johnstone explained that the police are often unable to help, as there is no law against domestic violence, which is part of the problem of dealing with domestic abuse. She said: “Unless the person has broken the law, there is nothing the police can do. If it’s emotional abuse they have hit a dead end straight away.

“What we are up against is that there are usually no witnesses.” Roger Clarke, a former police officer, explained his experience of dealing with victims of domestic abuse in the force - saying that many people with abusive partners do not press charges.

He said: “All they are interested in is getting that person out of the house. I have been out the police for 15 years and I don’t think it’s changed.” According to Ms Johnstone, Helensburgh has the highest turnover for domestic abuse in the region - yet there is no refuge in the town. Instead women have to make use of West Dunbartonshire’s services in Dumbarton and Alexandria, or the refuges within Argyll and Bute in Dunoon, Rothesay, and Campbeltown. She said many women 'don’t want to leave the area they are in’.

She added: “Funding is getting scarcer, but that doesn’t mean the work will stop.

“It’s going to be a very slow process, it will take generations. It’s important to have this chance to talk about it.”