Domestic violence incidents in Sligo falling but “still substantial”

THERE has been a reduction in the number of domestic violence offences in the Sligo Leitrim Garda Division but the number – 392 - is “still a substantial figure” a senior garda told members of the Sligo joint Policing Committee.

Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken

told members that nationally there had been a substantial increase in what he described as “domestic violence motive” related incidents but in this area the reduction in figures is “slightly bucking the national trend”.

Nationally during 2020/2021 there were 7,600 additional criminal charges created for things involving an element of domestic abuse, a 24% increase on the year before, he said.

Locally in 2021 there were 456 incidents reported to the gardaí which had a domestic

(pictured below)

violence motive.

“Those can be assault and a various range of offences where domestic violence may be identified as a motive,” he said.

“This year that figure has reduced to 392. It is still a substantial figure. We continue to encourage people to report and have the courage to report these incidents and let us always deal with that,” he said.

The Chief Supt said they were dealing with nine coercive control investigations that are active while the protective services unit here are dealing with 101 investigations, of which 22 are rape investigations while 28 are sexual assaults.

In response to a request for coercive control figures over the last three years sought by Cllr Marie Casserly he said there were 21 incidents of coercive control reported to us since the legislation was enacted. There are currently nine active coercive control investigations in the division at the moment, he told her.

He added that domestic violence motive related incidents have dropped from 456 to 392 in the last 12 months.

He revealed that last month he allocated a full-time detective inspector to the garda protective services unit, and he also assigned two new detectives to it.

“I know resourcing was an issue that came before the Joint Policing Committee before so I have committed additional resources in that area as well,” he said. Welcoming the figures Cllr Casserly said the reduction from 456 to 392 is welcome. “I know that during Covid there was a huge increase in the number of reported coercive control incidents,” she said.

Chief Supt Glacken added: “While we welcome the reduction in reported incidents with a domestic violence motive, we would still encourage people to report and come to us if they have any concerns at all.”

TOTAL garda numbers in SligoLeitrim including administrative staff have increased in the last seven years.

Members of Sligo Joint Policing Committee were told by Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken at last week’s meeting that total staff numbers had risen from 317 in 2015 to 341 in 2021.

There was an 18% increase in support staff.

Replying to a query from Cllr Marie Casserly who asked what the current extra staffing requirements in the Sligo Leitrim Division are and their ability to respond to rural crime, he said new appointments had also been made:

“We have seen increases, specifically around support staff, we have appointed some new people to our crime units and increased some of the resources externally.

In south Sligo we have increased from one sergeant in five from one sergeant in seven. “I do think we will see some pressures in relation to retirements and how quickly they can be replaced over the next 12 months.

“We are in a better position in terms of staffing and resourcing than we were in 2015 largely because we have been able to redeploy people from the frontline where we have had administrative posts filled by additional administrative staff.” Responding to a motion from Cllr Dara Mulvey who raised concerns from residents in the Skreen area who have been asking when a replacement will be appointed for the recently retired former Garda John McGuinness, he said Garda McGuinness would be replaced. Chief Supt Glacken said, “the answer is yes.

“I have made that commitment before.

“I have to examine the timing around that, it is my intention to replace the guard out in Skreen.”