Police to contact high-risk domestic violence victims

Det Ch Supt Lindsay Fisher issued the warning to violent perpetrators

A senior police officer has said police will be "proactively making contact" with high-risk victims of domestic violence who have previously reported incidents.

Twenty-four women have been violently killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.

In at least 20 of the 24 deaths, the killers - or the suspects in their killings - were well-known to the women.

Det Ch Supt Lindsay Fisher warned those with a history of violence or who are thinking of harming women that "every legal power" will be used to bring them to justice.

“We are absolutely determined that we will be relentless in our pursuit of the perpetrators," she said.

“I want men sitting at home who have a history of violence, or who are potentially thinking about harming a woman or girl to know that if you offend, we will catch you and we will use every legal power we have to bring you to justice."

'Violence will not be tolerated'

Det Ch Supt Fisher, who is head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) Public Protection Branch, said the force was "collectively devastated" by the recent murders of women in Northern Ireland.

"We want to send a strong message that violence against women and girls should not and will not be tolerated," she added.

"What does this say about us as a society? We need everyone in our communities to help us. Take a stand."

Violence against women and girls often "starts with inappropriate behaviours and then escalates", Det Ch Supt Fisher said, adding that violence, abuse and intimidation should be called out or reported if necessary.

She added that "societal change" was necessary to prevent abusers festering in the community.

• A picture of violence: The 24 women killed in four years

A new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls was launched at Stormont last month

Those who have been accused or convicted of the 24 killings since 2020 include husbands, partners, ex-partners, brothers, sons, a friend and a grandson.

At least 18 of the women were attacked or killed in their own homes.

Det Ch Supt Fisher encouraged women and girls to report any incidents or crimes to police.

"Staying, in silence and fear, is never the answer," she added.

Last month, the Northern Ireland Executive launched a new £3m strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.

It aims to focus on four key areas - prevention, protection and provision, the justice system and working better together - over the next seven years.

Northern Ireland was the only part of the UK or Ireland without a strategy on the issue.

There were more than 33,000 domestic abuse incidents in Northern Ireland in 2023.

In the last year, about 4,022 sexual violence and abuse reports were made to police.