PSNI makes 239 arrests in six months in crackdown on VAWG
Almost 240 perpetrators of violence against women and girls (VAWG) have been arrested in six months under new legislation in a crackdown by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Detective Superintendent Lindsay Fisher said they were using “every power available” to them to tackle VAWG.
The PSNI launched its first VAWG Action Plan at the end of September 2022.
To mark International Women’s Day (March 8) it released figures showing that 239 perpetrators have been arrested in the six months since the launch.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to “building trust and confidence, relentlessly pursuing perpetrators and making all spaces safer for women and girls”.
Coercive control domestic abuse and stalking both became criminal offences under new legislation for Northern Ireland in 2022.
Det Supt Fisher said: “We are proactively tracking reports of violence, abuse and intimidation against women and girls and targeting neighbourhood policing resources to locations where they have reported feeling unsafe. We want to have a deterring presence in these areas.
“A total of 6,500 officers and staff have also undergone revised training on domestic abuse, encompassing coercive control and 4,000 are now trained to recognise and respond to stalking.
“We are using every power available to us and sending a strong message to perpetrators, that we are actively pursuing you and we won’t stop. “This activity is firmly embedded into our business as usual and we want to see reporting figures and outcome rates continue to increase as a result.”
She added that this year’s theme for International Women’s Day was ‘Embrace Equity’.
“We stand in solidarity with those in our society committed to ensuring women and girls feel equally safe,” said Det Supt Fisher.