AQW 23947/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 08/10/2021
Answered On Date: 20/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice to outline any conversations she has had with the Chief Constable in relation to improving women’s safety and increasing women’s confidence in the police.

Answer:

I meet regularly with the Chief Constable and his senior team to discuss a range of issues.

I fully support efforts to ensure improvement in women’s safety and increasing women’s confidence in the police and I welcome the Chief Constable’s recent announcement that he has commissioned a robust internal review within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in order to provide reassurances to women and young girls. My Department stands ready to support the PSNI in this review.

The PSNI is also currently rolling out training as a result of the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 which should highlight key behaviours that are of concern.

You will also be aware that the Executive has agreed that they will bring forward a violence against women and girls strategy which was on foot of my proposition to the Executive. The Executive agreed that The Executive Office would take the lead on bringing it forward as it was not simply a matter for the Justice Department, but for all Departments, to tackle violence against women and girls, whether direct or indirect.