Eight people – including two women – were arrested last Thursday as police swooped on domestic violence offenders in Hackney.

More than 4,500 officers were out in force across London to bring dangerous and prolific domestic abuse offenders to justice in the co-ordinated day of action by the Metropolitan Police under the monthly Operation Big Wing.

The idea was to raise awareness of domestic abuse and the help available to victims, while sending a clear message that domestic abuse will not be tolerated.

Det Sgt Ian Hicks, who led the operation in Hackney, said: “Some of them have been a victim of domestic abuse for years and years and years, and some of them think it’s an acceptable way of life.

“It’s engrained in them that it’s part of marriage, it’s part of their culture, part of how he is, he apologises and they put up with it.

“It’s up to us and it’s up to them to break that. It’s hard work. The priority is minimising the risk to the victim and making sure the victim is safe and well.”

Mr Hicks said speaking to domestic abuse victims gave him an “overwhelming urge to do the right thing”.

“You see some of the injuries I’ve seen – broken cheekbones or eye sockets where they’ve been punched – and you just think, ‘How can people do that?’

“You want to help them to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he added.

The targeted arrests in Hackney saw one man arrested for perverting the course of justice after he threatened to burn the house down, and a further two men taken into custody for common assault after they allegedly slapped their wives during an argument.

Two women were arrested for common assault – one for swinging a bottle at her mother during an argument, and another who allegedly pushed her sister during an argument.

A further man was arrested for assault after allegations were made that he hit his victim numerous times, another alleged to have assaulted his partner during an argument was arrested for actual bodily harm, and one other man accused of punching his former partner was arrested for the more serious crime of grievious bodily harm.

Imprisonment

A common assault conviction comes with a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment, while grievious bodily harm can lead to the offender being locked up for life.

Domestic abuse awareness activities took place throughout the day across all 32 London boroughs. These included awareness stalls at busy transport hubs and shopping areas, along with presentations to pupils led by safer schools officers.