In London there are no safe houses for male victims of domestic abuse, despite the Metropolitan Police receiving over 150,000 calls per year.

Figures show that in two and a half years police attended 329,666 calls relating to domestic abuse all over London – nine per cent of which led to someone being charged.

A campaigner has questioned why there are no safe refuges for men with children, suggesting London “is not interested in addressing” the issue.

The police attended at least one call a day about domestic abuse between January 2016 and April 2018, official figures show.

The highest amount of these calls were in Croydon for the two and a half years, with 17,629 calls being made.

In the same period in Croydon only 1,368 people were charged.

Other boroughs with high numbers of domestic violence reports included Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham and Southwark.

Boroughs with the lowest amount of calls included Kingston upon Thames, Richmond and Kensington and Chelsea.

A spokesman for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he is “working on encouraging more victims” to come forward and report abuse.

The Mayor also hit out at cuts to local authorities over the years, arguing that cuts have given councils “no choice but to reduce vital services.”

Mark Brooks, chair of the ManKind Initiative, said questions needed to be answered about why so few people are being charged for domestic violence, calling for more support for male victims.

He said: “Serious questions have to be answered about why there is such a difference between calls and charges.

“We also need to know what support is given to those who make the calls - are they assessed, are they referred to local organisations, are they offer a range of safe places to go to?

“About one in four reports are from male victims but very few end up being signposted and supported by specialist organisations and professionals.

“Our concern is why so few are being supported.”

He added: “In terms of refuges and safe houses, in London, there are no places for male victims including if they have children.

“This still remains a terrible situation that sadly London's councils and housing associations do not seem interested in addressing.”

Crisis support charity, Hestia, added that two thirds of London’s MPs are being approached by their constituents for help about domestic abuse.

An independent poll by the charity found that 67 per cent of the capital’s MPs had been approached in July for help, compared with the national average of 55 per cent.

The charity also found that when a victim is trying to get help, there can be hurdles along the way when trying to get the appropriate support.

On average, a victim of domestic abuse will encounter as many as 13 different agencies before they get the correct support, the charity said.

Mr Khan said tackling domestic violence remains one of his priorities as mayor.

A spokesman said: “We are working to encourage more victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence – men and women – to come forward and report, so that they can get access to the support they need, and so the police can take action to catch those responsible.

“Tackling domestic violence is a key priority in the Mayor’s Policing and Crime Plan. He has provided £2 million of funding for the Pan London Domestic Abuse Service – the biggest of its kind in London – which is open to men and women.

“Through Survivors UK, the Mayor also supports male victims of rape and sexual abuse with funding to help them receive counselling through one-to-one support and advocacy support should they wish to report to the police and proceed through the criminal justice route.

“Clearly, funding cuts to local authorities over recent years have given them no choice but to reduce vital services. We have, and will, continue to lobby the Government to address this funding crisis through its Domestic Abuse Bill.”

The ManKind Initiative offer confidential help on 01823 334244​

Hestia offer support to adults and children across London in times of crisis and offer an app, Brightsky, for victims to use for free.

Hestia.org