There were 18,640 domestic abuse crimes recorded by the PSNI between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020, an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year and the highest figure recorded since the start of the data series in 2004.

In total, the PSNI recorded 31,817 incidents across the period, equalling 17 domestic abuse incidents and 10 domestic abuse crimes per 1,000 population, the quarterly statistical bulletin states.

The PSNI has received at least 3,755 calls related to domestic abuse since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown. Three people are suspected to have been killed in domestic abuse incidents in Northern Ireland during the lockdown.

Justice Minister Naomi Long has brought forward new legislation on domestic abuse, but has come under pressure from Amnesty International to also make more funding available for women’s refuges and domestic abuse charities.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty’s Northern Ireland programme director, said: “Significant extra money has been made available in every other part of the UK, but not in Northern Ireland.

“Amnesty wrote to the Executive asking for this funding to made available at the start of April. Six weeks on, we have received no reply, and beyond some very small-scale funding provided by the Housing Executive and the Safeguarding Board, we are not aware of any additional provision for frontline groups to deal with the rise in incidents arising from the coronavirus lockdown.

“With the lockdown set to continue, Northern Ireland faces ongoing high demand on frontline domestic abuse services, on refuges and counselling services; services which are already incurring additional costs and under strain. This is a life and death issue and should be a matter of urgency for the Executive.”