Domestic violence increase in NI over Christmas period

Police said the figure rose by more than 200 due to higher numbers of harassment and malicious communications offences.

On New Year’s Day, officers received 187 calls for help.

PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Paula Hilman said: “We wanted to remind people they do not have to suffer in silence, that they can report any incident of domestic abuse to police.”

Between December 15 and January 16, the force received 3,036 calls for help in relation to domestic abuse incidents compared with 3,114 in the same period a year earlier - a decrease of 78.

However, during the same period the PSNI received 1,782 reports of domestic crimes, an increase of 208 on the 1,574 over the same period the year before.

Ms Hilman added: “It is encouraging to note that violence against the person with injury has however decreased, and, as a police service, we continue to ensure we arrest and charge offenders for these offences, where the evidence exists to do so.

“On Christmas Day - a time when traditionally families come together to celebrate - we received 96 reports of domestic abuse incidents, again a decrease of 20 calls from the previous Christmas Day. On New Year’s Day we received a staggering 187 calls for help - an increase of 29 incidents compared to the previous year.

“This may seem like a small increase but, sadly, there are victims behind every single one of these statistics.”

The senior officer went on to say: “I want to make a direct appeal to anyone who is a victim of domestic abuse, or anyone who knows of any incident of domestic abuse to tell us so we can make it stop. Please call us on 101 or if it’s an emergency always call 999.

“A 24-hour Domestic and Sexual Abuse helpline is available to anyone who has concerns about domestic or sexual violence, now or in the past, on 0808 802 1414.”