The PSNI and criminal justice system need to more to protect victims of domestic violence, Derry Sinn Fein Councillor Patricia Logue has said.
Cllr Patricia Logue
Cllr Logue was speaking after an inspection report criticised the way the police dealt with domestic violence in Northern Ireland.
The Criminal Justice Inspection report said the PSNI had failed to implement a series of improvements recommended three years ago.
The Department of Justice estimates one in five women in Northern Ireland have been victims of domestic abuse, and the police deal with three calls every hour.
There were 11,160 recorded domestic abuse crimes in Northern Ireland from April 2012 to March 2013 – the highest figure since records began.
A report published on Tuesday says only one of the 13 recommendations has been achieved, six have been partially achieved, and six have not been achieved.
Cllr Logue said the showed “once again” that domestic violence was not viewed as a serious crime to be tackled and pursued in the way that other crimes wre.
She added: “The fact that only one of 13 recommendations made three years ago to improve the PSNI’s handling of domestic violence have been achieved, has let victims of domestic abuse down.
“Given that there were 11,160 recorded crimes of domestic abuse in one year and that there are many that go unrecorded, indicates that action is needed by the Criminal Justice agencies to take the necessary measures to protect and support victims.”
Cllr Logue said domestic violence is a serious crime, which could have a “devastating physical and emotional” effect on its victims and their families.
She concluded: The Criminal Justice agencies need to ensure that victims of domestic violence are given the support and justice they deserve and that perpetrators are dealt with.”
Tags:
