NWCI welcomes announcement of regional units to tackle domestic abuse and sexual offences

Published: Thursday, September 29, 2016

The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) welcomes the announcement by An Garda Siochana Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan, to establish regional units to tackle domestic abuse and sexual offences. 

Orla O'Connor, Director of NWCI said
"This is a very positive announcement by the Garda Commissioner, in order to respond to and investigate crimes of domestic abuse and sexual offences more effectively. NWCI have been calling for these specialist units since 2014. 1 in 5 women experience physical and or sexual violence in Ireland and these developments are a welcome sign of the increased prioritisation of these crimes within An Garda Siochana.  These new Garda units will be critical in supporting women to report incidences, and in proceeding through the criminal justice system. The establishment of the new units and development of risk assessment were both recommendations of the 2015 Garda Inspectorate Report and were advocated by NWCI and our members providing frontline services to support women."

Orla O'Connor continued
"Ireland has been consistently criticised at UN level for its low numbers of women reporting domestic and sexual abuse, and also for its high attrition rates with regard to sexual crimes. We know that only 29% of women who have experienced severe abuse report it to Gardaí, and that high numbers drop out of the criminal justice system.  It is essential that Gardaí assigned to the new units are provided with appropriate training to ensure they have an understanding of the issues surrounding domestic abuse and sexual crimes and of the complexities of abuse in intimate relationships."

Orla O'Connor concluded,
"It is also critical that the units are provided with appropriate resources, so that they can address the needs of women and punish perpetrators appropriately.  The nature of violence against women is a real barrier to women reporting domestic and sexual abuse, so it is important that these measures are implemented effectively and resourced appropriately.”

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