Rise In Domestic Violence

Around one in 20 adults in Northern Ireland have experienced at least one form of domestic violence and abuse within a three year period.

Reports provided by the PSNI on domestic abuse also showed that the figure of 27,628 incidents for 2013/14 was the highest level recorded since 2004/05.

The Ulster University has made recommendations that could help the PSNI to better support local victims.

The Every Voice Counts report carried out by Ulster University researchers interviewed a group of 20 domestic violence survivors and 23 PSNI officers within the H District/Coleraine area.

Ulster University psychologist Dr Cherie Armour said: "It is vitally important that the way in which the PSNI responds to incidents of domestic violence is carefully monitored and reviewed. This is a really challenging role for any police force given the long lasting psychological, social and physical impacts on victims and their families.

"As this was the first time such a study was to be carried out in Northern Ireland it was essential that we looked at domestic violence from both the PSNI and the victims perspectives.

"We found that both groups agreed on several aspects which would improve overall police responses. These included a need for mental health awareness training for officers and a revision of the current Dash risk identification checklist used by the PSNI. It was also found that a lack of clear physical evidence, such as in emotional abuse cases, is a barrier to reporting and responding.

"We hope that the voices represented in this study are listened to and that the recommendations help the PSNI and other professionals to deliver even stronger, more robust support for all victims and survivors of domestic violence."

Recommendations include:

• A need for comprehensive mental health awareness training within the PSNI for officers;

• Police training on how to respond to various types of domestic violence including emotional abuse;

• A more joint up approach from statutory and voluntary services to responding to domestic violence;

• Specialist domestic violence/criminal justice workers supporting police on a shift based rota;

• A detailed review of the practicalities of the risk checklist, used by police officers at an incident, which was perceived as too long and impersonal, and often impractical during highly emotional situations.

(CD)