Warning of 'inconsistent' Garda response to domestic violence amid 8% rise in reports
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There has been an 8% rise in domestic violence reports this year compared to 2022, with 54,000 complaints made to date in 2023.
It comes as gardaí warn of heightened fears of violence in some households with Christmas approaching.
Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau said the Christmas period is an enjoyable time for the majority of citizens but An Garda Síochána (AGS) understands the fear and concern some people experience in their own homes, which can be further heightened at this time of year.
Gardaí said the force continues to treat all instances of gender-based violence as a priority and reinforced their commitment to keeping people safe, particularly the victims of domestic and sexual abuse.
However, in a wide-ranging report out today, examining the Government’s progress on implementing the third national strategy to tackle domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence (DSGBV), one of the concerns highlighted is the Garda response to victims.
The report, published by the Irish Observatory on Violence Against Women, a coalition of up of 28 civil society organisations, has highlighted both progress and challenges across four pillars: Prevention, protection, prosecution, and policy.
Despite detailing progress made in training gardaí, the report states: “AGS’s policies on DSGBV have significantly improved in the years, yet cultural issues in policing, involving problematic views of DV and abuse, remain an issue, creating an ‘inconsistent’ response to domestic violence.”
The report points to a recently-published CSO survey showing low levels of trust in reporting violence to the gardaí, particularly with regards to Travellers and Roma in Ireland. The group has called for the immediate introduction of data collection, and the implementation of actions “to address AGS’s discriminatory practices".
The report states that while there has been “significant positive” development in the implementation of the strategy, it is clear that across all realms of DSGBV “considerable challenges” remain to be addressed in terms of vindicating the rights of women and girls to live free from violence.
Victims are not being sufficiently considered in the State’s response to tackling gender-based violence, and can be exposed to “unacceptable trauma”, the report said.
Other concerns outlined in the report include:
- Training for frontline services on dealing with victims with disabilities, deafness, or visual impairment has been slow;
- Concerns in relation to migrants and those with literacy challenges being able to access services;
- Children and families continue to be turned away from refuges due to a lack of space, despite an increase in provision;
- Lack of data on whether the Government’s strategy is working, and on training;
- Survivors' needs are not considered in the family court system;
- Lack of progress in relation to online safety for women and children;
- Greater focus needed on addressing the harms of prostitution and trafficking.
Co-author of the report, National Women's Council violence against women co-ordinator Ivanna Youtchak, said inaccessibility is a “cross-cutting issue” and access and accessibility for minority groups, women with disabilities, and women in addiction were still difficult.
"An intersectional approach is vital to solving these issues," she said.
Reacting to Garda findings that there has been an 8% increase in complaints of domestic abuse, Ms Youtchak said it was not surprising and is “consistent” with what has been raised in numerous reports despite progress in some areas in tackling DGSBV.