Debate contribution: 'Domestic Abuse Incidents and Crimes Recorded by the Police in Northern Ireland'

Debate contribution by Ms Diane Forsythe on 13 October 2025.

MLA: Ms Diane Forsythe
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 13 October 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: 'Domestic Abuse Incidents and Crimes Recorded by the Police in Northern Ireland'
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5175586

Text

Like others, I send my best to the Minister and her husband following the absolutely appalling attack outside their home. I offer my continued support to her for her strong work on the abuse of elected representatives, particularly female ones. Minister, in light of the figures, some support groups recently expressed concern at the all-party group (APG) on domestic and sexual violence — you touched on this — that the PSNI's reporting of a reduced number of offences is painting a picture that the number of incidents and the number of crimes have reduced, yet agencies and groups such as Women's Aid are reporting higher numbers of self-referrals. Minister, is there any forum in which we can bring together the different support groups, alongside the PSNI, to paint a full picture of what is happening here?

136 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 2511/22-27.

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Not analysed

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