Public urged to speak out over domestic abuse

The key message of the campaign ‘If you feel like you’re walking on eggshells that’s domestic abuse’ is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents and make victims aware that they can take steps to stop it.

The campaign will run from now until the end of July and will consist of billboard advertising across the Lisburn and Castlereagh area and a wider radio and online advertising campaign across Northern Ireland.

The police respond to an incident of Domestic Abuse every 19 minutes. While this is a shocking statistic there is a belief that a large number of domestic incidents are still going unreported

Councillor Scott Carson, Chairman of Lisburn and Castlereagh PCSP said: “Between March 2014 and April 2016, there were 2841 domestic abuse incidents reported to local police, with an increase of 153 incidents in the year 2015/16 compared to the same period the previous year. In percentage terms this is an increase of 11.4%.

“We welcome the increase because we believe this shows confidence is increasing in the police. However, we know that incidents are still going unreported.

“Very often people who are being abused feel isolated, vulnerable and frightened and don’t know where to turn.

“Through this campaign we are encouraging all victims regardless of age, race, gender or sexuality to come forward and report the matter to the police. Speak out to stop it.”

Superintendent Sean Wright, District Commander for Lisburn and Castlereagh said: “It is our job to keep people safe. Our role is about prevention, protection and prosecution – to prevent further violence, to protect the victim, children and other vulnerable people and to facilitate the prosecution of offenders

“We welcome this campaign and through working in partnership we hope more victims will seek help.”