Victim Support NI welcomes review from CJINI but wants to see quicker implementation of the remaining recommendations

Victim Support NI, the leading independent charity supporting victims and witnesses of crime in Northern Ireland, welcomes today’s follow-up review from the Criminal Justice Inspectorate (CJINI) into the recommendations first published in their No Excuse inspection report in 2019.

The initial report made seven recommendations as to how the criminal justice system could improve their handling of cases of domestic violence and abuse. We note that whilst there has been progress towards implementing some of the recommendations, the pace to implement change has been slow.

Domestic violence is a pervasive crime, affecting victims from every walk of life. Reports of domestic abuse to police have increased in recent years, and we must do better to provide victims with support and services that adequately addresses their needs.

While we recognise the impact of COVID on the progress of the recommendations made, it is also the case that the pandemic lockdowns have resulted in the escalation of violence and abuse in many homes. Many victims found themselves at an increased risk of violence and abuse because they were trapped in a place that should have been safe. Unfortunately, from March-August 2020, police responded to a call of domestic incident every 16 minutes.

We need to ensure bold and innovative steps are being taken to address the issues raised in this follow-up review. This includes tackling the backlog of cases which were already building up before the pandemic struck, and making the justice process more accessible and less traumatic for victims. Victims already wait too long for their cases to reach court and we cannot accept further delays, especially for vulnerable victims.

It is welcomed that the domestic violence and abuse specific courts are operational in Londonderry but we urge that steps are taken to forge ahead with plans to roll out a similar court listing in Belfast.

We also recognise the progress that has been made, especially the passage of the Domestic and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 that received Royal Assent on 1st March, 2021.

We are pleased to see that the PSNI and PPS working more closely as a prosecution team, as well as the introduction of Domestic Homicide Reviews, which will inevitably result in better outcomes for victims.

It’s also encouraging to see collaborative work in action within the PSNI-led Domestic Abuse Independent Advisory Group, which has been responding quickly to the rise in cases of domestic abuse, ensuring victims have adequate support and access to services.

We must now press on with the remaining recommendations, and ensure that victims of domestic violence and abuse feel supported at every step along the criminal justice system journey.

Finally, domestic violence victims can call Victim Support NI for support from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday – Belfast Hub: 02890 243133 / Foyle Hub: 02871 370086. They can also contact the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline 24/7 on 0808 802 1414 or access services from Nexus, Women’s Aid NI or the Men’s Advisory Project.