New strategy targets North domestic violence

Domestic violence is not acceptable in any circumstances and will no longer be tolerated in Northern Ireland, the British government…

Domestic violence is not acceptable in any circumstances and will no longer be tolerated in Northern Ireland, the British government declared today.

It unveiled a new strategy and five-year action plan to try to eradicate domestic violence - which each year results in around five people being killed, injures hundreds and forces the rehousing of 700 families.

Research shows that around 11,000 local children live daily with domestic violence either as victim or witness.

Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson said it was a tremendous problem and was still hugely under-reported.

READ MORE

For the first time in Northern Ireland a linked multi-departmental and multi-agency approach will try to tackle the problem. The three-pronged strategy focuses on prevention, protection and justice and support.

An advertising campaign on TV, radio and in the newspapers aims to raise the profile of what has been a taboo subject.

Announcing the campaign and strategy in Belfast, Mr Hanson said that every day about 12 women and four men reported an assault by a partner to the police.

He said the majority of such crimes were committed by men on women but that men also suffered and there were an increasing number of victims among same-sex couples.

PA