AQO 2514/22-27

Mr David Honeyford
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 02/10/2025
Answered On Date: 14/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice for her assessment of the impact of domestic abuse on women and children in rural communities.

Answer:

AQO 2514 22-27 - ANSWER

I recognise that domestic abuse has a profound impact on women and children in all parts of our society, but there are particular challenges in rural communities.

Along with Minister Muir I recently visited Women’s Aid in Armagh and Down to mark Rural Crime Week where we heard about the barriers for those in rural areas accessing services and support. Geographic isolation, limited access to services, lack of public transport, financial dependency and stigma can all compound risk and make it harder for victims to seek help and in some cases, perpetrators exploit these barriers to maintain control.

Through the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy my Department is working with partners to understand better the needs of victims of domestic abuse living in rural areas and to improve provision to meet those needs. My Department funds a number of support services for victims of crime and for victims of domestic abuse, including ASSIST NI which operates across the whole of Northern Ireland, including rural areas, to provide advocacy services to high-risk victims of domestic abuse, to support them through the criminal justice process and help them to access other relevant services. There are other initiatives that my Department is leading, including the establishment of Remote Evidence Centres, that are helping to reduce under-reporting and attrition, by increasing confidence in the Justice system and providing venues where victims can feel safe as they provide evidence to the court.

In addition, through the DSA Small Grant Scheme, funding is being provided to voluntary and community sector organisations that deliver specialist support on the ground, including in rural communities, ensuring that services are accessible regardless of geography.

The 24-hour Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline, jointly funded by my Department, also provides immediate, confidential support to anyone affected, whether they live in an urban or rural setting, and can signpost to local services.

Domestic abuse is a devastating crime with long-lasting impacts, and I remain committed to working in partnership to ensure that victims in rural communities have the same level of access to protection and support as those in more urban areas.