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A refuge for male victims of domestic abuse could be set up in south Wales.

Bridgend Council is working with other local authorities on the proposal. A meeting heard growing numbers of men were seeking support but as yet there was no dedicated facility in the county for male victims.

Councillor Carolyn Webster asked at the meeting when the county might get its first male refuge, and pointed out that one in three victims of domestic abuse was male.

She said: “In 2016/17, 2.7% of men and 5.2% of women experienced non-sexual partner abuse.

“What support is being given to men in this county?”

Officers said services were non-discriminatory and the local authority had “invested heavily” in support programmes not only for victims but also for perpetrators to try and stop domestic abuse from taking place.

Martin Morgans, the council's head of performance and partnership services, told councillors: “We are currently looking at opportunities as a joint service in terms of hostels supporting men so we don’t quite yet have a male refuge in the county borough.

“We are working with other authorities.

“We acknowledge men are disclosing far more and that’s something we want to address.”

He added: “It [a male refuge] is something I’d like to see if I’m being honest because I think there is a need to support anyone in that situation.”

Councillor Webster raised concerns over the location of any proposed shared facility with another local authority.

She said: “You can’t have people going from Ogmore Vale to live in Barry, maybe that’s not where their community is and where they need to be.”

Specialists working with victims have previously said they are unable to say whether domestic abuse against men is on the rise but do say awareness of the issue has helped make it more acceptable for men to receive support.

The overview and scrutiny committee took place on Monday, March 18.