MORE than 2,000 people aged between 15 and 86 have been arrested for domestic abuse offences in Pembrokeshire during the last five years.

The number of people arrested has remained consistent, with between 400 and 500 people arrested each year during that period.

The lowest number was in 2009/10 with 407 arrests made. That year, the youngest offender was 15 and the oldest was 72.

Some 500 people were arrested in 2011/12, which was the highest number during the five years.

The figure for 2008/9 was 427 arrests, with the oldest offender aged 80 and the youngest 19, while in 2010/11 452 people aged between 75 and 18 were arrested.

Last year, 456 people were arrested, with ages ranging from 18 to 74.

The figures emerged as part of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Dyfed-Powys Police by the Western Telegraph.

Pembrokeshire had the second highest number of arrests in the force area, which also includes Carmarthenshire, Powys and Ceredigion.

Some 2,515 arrests were made in Carmarthenshire between 2008 and 2013, compared to 2,242 in Pembrokeshire. There were 749 arrests in Ceredigion.

When asked about the protocol for dealing with domestic abuse cases, a FOI spokesman for Dyfed Powys Police said there was a “specific” policy in place.

He added: “This ensures positive action is taken upon the report of domestic incidents. If crimes are suspected, offenders will be the subject of immediate arrest.

“Repeat incidents are monitored and referred into the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC).”