New Police Strategy Addresses VAWG

The PSNI has adopted a new counter-terror approach to dealing with violence against women and girls (VAWG)

“Between 2019 and 2024, 30 women and girls across Northern Ireland were tragically killed by men.

“This is unacceptable and we intend to adopt the new national framework to align our response to this with terrorism and serious and organised crime.”

A revised national framework, published earlier this year by the National Police Chief’s Council, outlined how police services will work to tackle violence against women and girls.

As the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) marks the second year anniversary of their dedicated action plan, they also launch a new approach to years three to seven.

In September 2022, the PSNI launched the first Tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Action Plan using the then national framework for delivery.

This laid out actions policing committed to take to build trust and confidence, relentlessly pursue perpetrators and create safer spaces. The now revised framework, which covers the next five years, is the next step in ensuring policing is focused on outcomes that make a real difference to tackling the epidemic of VAWG.

The report is published in the wake of the murder of another three women in Northern Ireland over the last month, taking the total to 30 women and girls murdered by men from 2019 – 2024.

Years one – two updates:

Two years on (to end of August 2024), officers have made 3,025 arrests under new legislation (domestic abuse, stalking and non-fatal strangulation) and conducted hundreds of targeted patrols in their bid to relentlessly pursue perpetrators. They have also put in place two stalking protection orders using new legislation.

Since the VAWG Action Plan was launched, 80 arrests have been made on average each month for the domestic abuse offence, there have been an average of 17 arrests each month for the offences of stalking and threatening and abusive behaviour, with 77 arrests each month for non-fatal strangulation.

In the twelve months to July 2024 there were 22,403 VAWG offences recorded. This is a reduction of -15.6% compared to the previous 12 months. The decrease is partly as a result of the reduction in violence against the person offences due to an increase in preventative and deterring police activity and presence. 

On 27th September 2022, the Police Service of Northern Ireland set out a clear seven year plan with 41 actions to affirm its commitment to building trust and confidence, relentlessly pursuing perpetrators and making all spaces safer for women and girls.

On the second anniversary today they have published their achievements to date, reporting that 33 of the 41 actions have already been completed, with progress made on the remaining eight.

You can read the progress made to date at: 

www.psni.police.uk/VAWG

Looking ahead to years three – seven:

In February 2023, the Home Secretary included VAWG within the Strategic Policing Requirement, which means that the national policing response to VAWG should be on par with terrorism and serious and organised crime. The PSNI intend to adopt this new approach.

The framework for delivery uses a ‘4P approach’, a tried and tested methodology that was developed in counter-terrorism.

The 4P approach ensures a focus on being well prepared to tackle VAWG offending, that action is being taken to protect individuals, families and communities and that perpetrators of VAWG are being relentlessly pursued.

This approach also has a focus on preventing VAWG, with a commitment from policing to support partners in taking the lead to a whole system approach to tackle VAWG.

Eight actions have been brought forward to complete in years three to seven and a further 13 have been added, these include:

·       A review of previous cases of sexual impropriety and misconduct alleged against PSNI personnel to ensure appropriate investigative actions were taken

·       Operationalise the introduction of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders / Notices

·       Develop scrutiny panels for rape “no prosecution” outcomes

·       Support the Executive Office with the development of a domestic abuse perpetrator strategy.

Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony McNally, PSNI Tackling VAWG Lead said: “Violence against women and girls and femicide across Northern Ireland and indeed the world is an epidemic, it would be remiss of us as a Police Service to not fully acknowledge and appropriately respond to that.

“Too many women and girls in Northern Ireland have lost their lives at the hands of men and it has been publicly acknowledged by the Chief Constable and our senior leadership as a whole, that pre-dating our action plan there were shortcomings in our response which is unacceptable.

“Over the last two years we have worked extremely hard at building relationships with key partners, bolstering our training and challenging our own thoughts and behaviours in this space.

“As a result of targeted resourcing and relentlessly pursuing perpetrators we have seen a reduction in VAWG offences and an increase in outcome rates for victims.

“There is no doubt that we have made significant progress in our efforts but there is more work to be done. We are not complacent and as a learning organisation, we still have lessons to embed.

“Looking forward we are adopting the national tested methodology that was developed in counter-terrorism and showcases how serious we take tackling violence, abuse and intimidation against women and girls in our communities.

“We know that policing only sees the tip of the iceberg and that there are women and girls out there who are still suffering in silence.

“My message through this action plan would be, please report to us. Have confidence in our ability to keep you and your family safe from harm. We want to help you and we want to see that justice is served to those who have hurt you in any way.”

Stalking survivor speaks out: 

The PSNI want the voices of women and girls who have experienced violence to be heard the loudest and set the context as to why this dedicated Action Plan is necessary for Northern Ireland.

23 year old, Jane (not her real name), joined a local band in the summer of 2022. Within this band was a 50-year old male member, who without ever even speaking to Jane developed a serious fixation.

For the next six months he persistently contacted her online, followed her and her family members, gave her unwanted ‘gifts’ and threatened to kill himself if she didn’t speak to him.

On 3^rd January 2024 he was arrested and charged with stalking and later sentenced to 10 months in custody.

On 10^th September 2024the PSNI also successfully secured a Stalking Protection Order, whereby if he made contact with or came near Jane again he would go to jail for the maximum term of five years.

She says: “I was mentally tortured by this man, there was no escape from him. When I blocked him, he found another way to contact me online. I worked in a local shop at the time and he would follow me there and spend ages in the shop, watching me. He was everywhere.

“I don’t think enough people understand how this crime affects victims, knowing someone is that obsessed and fixated on you, a person that could be capable of anything, it’s absolutely terrifying. He would not take no for an answer. He was convinced that I was an “angel sent to him”.

“I lived my life in fear, constantly looking over my shoulder, terrified even just getting a notification on my phone. I still to this day struggle to walk the dog on my own.

“I left my job, changed my car and my whole routine because of that man. I just wanted him to stop.

“Not enough people know enough about stalking to come forward and report, that’s why I am speaking out. This man never physically hurt me but that doesn’t matter, what he was doing IS a crime and the police took is seriously from the start.

“When they searched his house they found binoculars pointing to my house, he was a neighbour of mine too so he was always there, just watching.

“Now with the Stalking Protection Order, I feel like I have regained some power and control back over my own life. If you are going through something similar, don’t wait to report.”

Domestic abuse survivor speaks out:

32-year old Chelsea Hamilton, a survivor who has waived her right to anonymity has spoken out to encourage other women to seek justice.

On 20th October 2023, her ex-partner was convicted of assault, threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon and sentenced to four and a half years in custody with an extended licence period of three years due to being deemed a dangerous offender.

A five year restraining order was also granted from the date of release.

On 4^th September 2024 he also received a further two year sentence for wounding for a previous incident in which he held Chelsea’s leg down and sliced it open with a knife, requiring five stitches. 

Chelsea was subjected to three years of coercive control and physical abuse in her relationship and when she tried to leave, she was shot at with a crossbow that narrowly missed her and physically assaulted for a number of hours, including choking her unconscious.

Her ex-partner, who was training to become a professional MMA fighter at the time, left Chelsea with multiple injuries, including hindering her ability to control her own bladder for a number of months in the aftermath. 

After seeking justice she wants to encourage others to do the same: “I developed a stutter when speaking to people and began feeling like I wasn’t even a real person.

“There are so many women out there who I know feel the same and are silenced, living in fear. It’s not right.

“Through the police’s action plan, they want more women to come forward and put their trust in them to put their perpetrator in jail. That’s what they did for me.

“No woman should live their life in constant fear, walking on eggshells and isolated from family and friends. It is no life.

“They make you feel like what they are doing is your fault in some twisted way and that there is a chance you won’t be believed. Well, I was believed and it does get easier.

“For a year after I left him, I had recurring nightmares of his abuse and him choking me, I now am channelling all of that into the sport that he used to abuse me.

“I am training in mixed martial arts and have been through therapy to rebuild my mental strength. I speak out today so others see that the life they are living behind closed doors can end.

“The most dangerous time for a victim is when they try to leave, so please reach out for support and get the help you need to do so safely.”