Calls for urgent action as domestic abuse reports now at ‘epidemic’ levels

A FORMER Justice Minister has said Northern Ireland is facing an “epidemic” of domestic abuse after the PSNI revealed it has recorded its highest ever number of incidents

Claire Sugden, who is attempting to bring forward legislation to make so-called “coercive control” a criminal offence, told the Belfast Telegraph yesterday that more needs to be done to tackle domestic abuse here.

PSNI figures released yesterday show that 31,682 domestic abuse incidents were recorded in the 2018/19 financial year, 51% higher than the 20,959 recorded in 2004/05 when police records began.

Of those, there were 16,182 crimes, again the highest on record, and 86% of those were carried out allegedly by males. The majority were over 18, white and either British or Irish.

Figures also released yesterday showed an increase in crime to 100,995 in the past year, over 2,000 more than the historic low in 2016/17. There were also 21 murders recorded in the year, the third highest in the past 10 years.

Ms Sugden said the rise in figures may be because more people are reporting incidents, adding that Stormont institutions need to be restored to effectively tackle the issue.

“I think the figures are now starting to reflect what happens behind closed doors,” she said.

“In one sense, it is good that people are now recognising this type of behaviour as being wrong and feel confident enough in being able to come forward.

“It reiterates the epidemic we have in relation to domestic abuse in Northern Ireland and our systems don’t support any kind of redress for that, which is disappointing.”

The legislation put forward by the independent MLA over coercive control, where someone controls their partner through psychological abuse, has stalled due to the absence of a Stormont Executive and Parliament dissolving for the general election.

“When that becomes law, we might see even more incidents of domestic abuse recorded,” she added.

Ms Sugden added that she was hopeful the newly elected government will take up the new legislation when it comes into office.

Echoing Ms Sugden’s calls for Stormont to be restored, Green

The number of domestic abuse incidents recorded by the PSNI in

the 2018/19 financial year

Party leader Clare Bailey told the Belfast Telegraph the increase in domestic violence incidents was startling and presented a real issue for society, requiring an urgent response.

“There must be improvement made to the criminal justice system if we are to see better outcomes for domestic violence survivors,” she said.

“However, this issue goes right

The number of overall crimes recorded in the 2018/19 year, up by

over 2,000 on 2016/17

back to how we help our young people understand what constitutes a healthy relationship.

“That’s why I’m advocating for a compulsory relationship and sexuality education programme at schools level.”

Meanwhile, PSNI statistics have also revealed that crimes here exceeded the 100,000 mark for the first time in three years

Police recorded 100,995 crimes in 2018/2019, an increase on 98,120 in 2017/18 following on from 98,006 in 2016/17 — which was the lowest level recorded in the past 20 years.

A PSNI spokesperson said that any increase in crime is “disappointing” but stressed the latest figures had been compiled following Home Office recording practice changes.

This includes malicious communications offences which have been recorded for the first time by the PSNI.