Plaid Cymru MP Elfyn Llwyd led a major cross-party push yesterday for all types of domestic violence to be made a criminal offence.

Currently criminal proceedings are focused on finding physical evidence of violent crimes committed against domestic abuse victims.

Mr Llwyd introduced a Bill providing that a person could be found guilty of an offence if they display any behaviour which is covered by the government’s updated definition of domestic violence.

Under this definition, violence can include psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional abuse.

Mr Llwyd highlighted research which shows that 31 per cent of women and 18 per cent of men have experienced some form of domestic abuse since the age of 16.

Last year, 1.2 million women experienced domestic abuse in Britain, including half a million victims of sexual assault.

The Plaid Cymru MP declared: “Domestic violence is pervasive in our society. Every minute, police across the country will receive a domestic violence-related call.

“The flaws in the current system create substantial costs to victims and to us as a society.

“The physical care of abused women costs the NHS £1.2 billion, while the cost of mental health care for these women is £176 million.”

Justice unions parliamentary group secretary John McDonnell MP voiced strong support for Mr Llwyd’s ten minute rule Bill.

He said: “The law needs clarifying on domestic violence if potential victims are to be protected and perpetrators effectively prosecuted.”