‘Significant progress’ made by PSNI in tackling VAWG

The statement, commissioned by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and released on Tuesday (July 23), found more than one million VAWG-related crimes were recorded in England and Wales during 2022/23. This accounts for 20 per cent of all police recorded crime.

The report also found VAWG-related crime increased by 37 per cent between 2018/23, and that at least one in every 12 women will be a victim each year, with the exact number expected to be much higher.

Detective Chief Superintendent Lindsay Fisher, from the PSNI’s Public Protection Team, said policing only sees only “the tip of the iceberg” and many women and girls will suffer in silence.

She said her force has made “significant progress” in its efforts to deter VAWG perpetrators and safeguard victims.

The PSNI published its Tackling VAWG Action Plan in September 2022. Since then, positive progress has been seen in a number of areas.

In the rolling 365 days to January 10, 2024 there were 24,282 VAWG offences recorded. This is a reduction of 12 per cent compared to the previous 365-day period. The decrease is largely as a result of the reduction in violence against the person offences. There has also been a lot of police activity in preventing and deterring VAWG offences and offenders as detailed below.

Since September 2022 until January 31, 2024, the sanction outcome rate for VAWG offences is 26.2 per cent, with a charge/summons outcome rate of 21.3 per cent. These outcome rates are higher than the equivalent rates for all such offences recorded (24 per cent and 18.4 per cent respectively).

Over the same time period, sanction outcome rates for controlling or coercive behaviour sit at 49.9 per cent and sanction outcome rates for stalking sit at 52.6 per cent; both rates are higher than during the first 12 months of these pieces of legislation being introduced. The sanction outcome rate for non-fatal strangulation (introduced in June 2023) is 36.4 per cent.

Sanction outcomes include charge/summons, cautions and community resolution notices.

Officers are using a new tracking tool for reports of crimes against women and girls and targeting neighbourhood policing resources to these locations.

From September 2022 to end of January 2024, officers have arrested, on average, 73 people a month for the new domestic abuse offence, 15 people for stalking and since new legislation was introduced in June 2023, 77 people for non-fatal strangulation.

A dedicated Design out Crime team was introduced to provide specialist design solutions and assessments on the security to local businesses to minimise crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour. Since September 1, 2022, until end of January 2024, the team has provided support to more than 200 projects.

The safety codeword initiative ‘Ask for Angela’ continues to be rolled out to bars, clubs and other licensed businesses across Northern Ireland, with more than 400 already signed up.

The PSNI Professional Standards Department has established a sexual misconduct review team, reviewing the past ten years of sexual misconduct allegations against police officers. They are also actively ensuring officers and staff know how to report discriminatory or unethical behaviours via an internal reporting system.

Currently, 6,000 officers and staff have undergone revised training on domestic abuse, encompassing coercive control, as well as a year two refresher package. More than 3,000 have been trained to recognise and respond to stalking and non-fatal strangulation. New modules of training have also been developed and delivered in person across all policing districts for the Justice Act Offences known as ‘up skirting’ and ‘down blousing’.

A training package with NEXUS has also been delivered to 4,000 officers to address rape myths, how they may present when victims are disclosing trauma and how we can best present their evidence in court.

Det Chief Supt Fisher said: “I welcome the statement issued by the NPCC, and want to reassure the Northern Irish public that their police service remains committed to providing a first class response to these offences, which disproportionately affect women and girls, and to pursue those who commit them.

“We know already that policing only sees the tip of the iceberg and that there are women and girls out there who are suffering in silence. My message today to them would be, please report. We want to help you and we want to see that justice is served to those who have harmed you in any way.

“We have made significant progress in our efforts to deter VAWG perpetrators and safeguard victims but there is more work to be done. We are never complacent.

“Every officer and staff member is part of our continued collective commitment to tackle violence, intimidation and harassment of women and girls but we can’t win this fight on our own. We look forward to the anticipated publication of the Executive’s strategy which we hope will affirm a societal commitment.”