Victim Support NI Welcomes NIO Minister Matthew Patrick

We were delighted to welcome Minister Matthew Patrick MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secreta

ry of State for Northern Ireland to our Belfast hub this week. The Minister

visited our central office on Thursday 16 April 2026 to learn about our services for victims and witnesses of crime in Northern Ireland.

During his visit he was introduced to some of our staff members, including representatives from our Community Service, Witness Service and our team of Sexual Offences Legal Advisors (SOLAs) and Child Sexual Offences Legal Advisors (CSOLAs). As the main focus of the visit was on ending violence against women and girls, we discussed the positive impact that the introduction of Sexual Offences Legal Advisors (SOLAs), Child Sexual Offences Legal Advisors (CSOLAs), Domestic Abuse Contest Courts (DACCs) and Remote Evidence Centres (RECs) has had in Northern Ireland, and why sustained investment is needed to ensure that these services are able to continue in the long term.

Speaking shortly after the visit, Janice Bunting MBE, Victim Support NI’s Chief Executive, said: “The team and I were pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Minister Patrick today and explain our services for victims and witnesses of crime.

“As the only all crime support agency in Northern Ireland, we hope Minister Patrick’s visit will raise awareness of our work across Westminster and ensure victims’ needs are at the heart of our criminal justice system across the UK.”

Minister Matthew Patrick said after the visit:

“I am grateful to Janice and the expert team at Victim Support NI who shared some incredible insight into the important work they do, particularly to support victims and survivors of abuse in navigating the justice system.

“Last month, we sadly saw the thirtieth adult woman killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. This is intolerable and shames us all. We all have a role to play in tackling violence against women and girls.”

Minister Matthew Patrick was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in September 2025.

For more information about our services for victims and witnesses of crime, please visit our website: www.victimsupportni.com/

If you have been the victim of a crime, you can call us free of charge from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday on the phone numbers below. Alternatively, you can email either our Belfast or Foyle offices.

Belfast phone number: 028 9013 0405

Belfast office email: belfast@victimsupportni.org.uk

Foyle phone number: 028 7137 0086

Foyle office email: foyle@victimsupportni.org.uk