Domestic Abuse

Human rights campaigners have called on the Northern Ireland Executive to provide additional funding and support to victims of domestic violence, as new figures reveal over 32,000 domestic abuse incidents in the last 12 months. A new report published by the PSNI revealed that there were 32,127 domes

An Garda Síochána's response to domestic abuse during the COVID-19 crisis is "the best it has ever been in Ireland", a new report suggests. The Policing Authority yesterday published its half-year assessment of policing performance, which highlights in particular the success of Operati

A 30,000-strong petition that calls for domestic abuse laws to provide safety for migrant women will be delivered to the UK government today.

Free public transport will be available from today for people fleeing domestic abuse, ministers have announced. The measure was first floated in May by Justice Minister Naomi Long and Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon after a similar free rail travel scheme was unveiled in England and Wales.

Domestic homicide reviews (DHRs) will be introduced in Northern Ireland by the end of the year under plans published today. Justice Minister Naomi Long and Health Minister Robin Swann have jointly published their plan for year five of the seven-year domestic and sexual abuse strategy.

A proposed automatic bar on alleged domestic abusers cross-examining complainants should be extended from the criminal courts to include the family courts, the Bar Council of Northern Ireland has said. In a written submission to the call for written evidence on the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedi

Men will not be able to advance the legal defence that their partner was accidentally killed in a "sex game gone wrong" under new domestic abuse legislation being considered by MPs. Campaign group We Can't Consent To This has identified at least 60 women from the UK who have been killed in recent ye

The Irish courts are “not fit for purpose” as far as dealing with violence against women is concerned, experts have said. The legal process frequently re-traumatises women, a UN special rapporteur and NGO leaders told viewers in a webinar hosted by Orla O’Connor of the National Wom

The number of domestic abuse crimes recorded by police in Northern Ireland have reached a 15-year high. 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

People fleeing domestic abuse will be able to access free public transport under plans being developed by the Departments of Justice and Infrastructure. Justice Minister Naomi Long and Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon agreed to work together to explore the idea after a meeting yesterday.

Strangulation is a substantial, separate and distinct aggravating feature to be taken into account in sentencing for domestic violence, appeal judges in Belfast have emphasised while dismissing an appeal against sentence. The Court of Appeal this morning upheld the 12-month prison sentence handed do

Legislation to create a new domestic abuse offence for Northern Ireland is being debated at the second stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Addressing a small number of MLAs in the chamber earlier this afternoon, Justice Minister Naomi Long said she was pleased to bring the bill forward, "even th

A new awareness campaign has been launched to ensure that victims of domestic abuse know services are still available in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. New TV and radio ads now airing reflect the particular issues raised for some by the need to stay at home because of restrictions introduced to

Legislation to create a new domestic abuse offence for Northern Ireland has been introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill 2020 aims to criminalise patterns of controlling and coercive behaviour, as well as physical abuse, against a partner, former p

An Garda Síochána has announced a crackdown on domestic abuse during the coronavirus pandemic. The Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) is overseeing the implementation of "Operation Faoisimh", which is designed to ensure that victims of domestic abuse are supported and pr