During the festive season, the PSNI received an alarming average of 92 domestic abuse calls each day
In total, there were 1,288 calls made to the police from December 20 to January 2. This is slightly down from the previous year, but still higher than the usual average of 80 calls a day.
New Year’s Day was particularly busy, with 127 calls coming in. The days right after Christmas also saw high numbers, with 109 calls on December 27 and 102 on December 26.
Geraldine Hanna, the Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime, expressed her sadness over these statistics. She pointed out that the festive season can be especially dangerous for victims of domestic abuse.
Hanna emphasized the importance of having a well-resourced support system and a criminal justice process that is sensitive to the needs of victims. She also welcomed the police’s effort to publish this data, as it helps raise awareness and transparency around the issue.
Looking ahead, she hopes to see more detailed demographic data next year to better understand the situation.
