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Former top policewoman Judith Gillespie presents domestic violence documentary

Former PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie is presenting a documentary on domestic violence. Picture by Mal McCann 
Former PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie is presenting a documentary on domestic violence. Picture by Mal McCann  Former PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie is presenting a documentary on domestic violence. Picture by Mal McCann 

FORMER deputy chief constable Judith Gillespie says she hopes a program looking at the impact of domestic violence on families will encourage victims to seek support.

Ms Gillespie, who retired from the force in 2014, said she jumped at the opportunity to make a program about the problem as it was the area of policing that changed most radically during her 32-years in the PSNI and one that was close to her own heart.

She interviewed both victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse for the BBC One NI documentary, Domestic Terror, broadcast on Tuesday night.

"For me, it was always an area of crime that struck at the very heart of community safety - if you can't feel safe in your own home, where and when can you ever feel safe?

"It was an area of huge complexity, where the response needed to be joined up and effective and it was a crime that affected so many people, not just the obvious victim, but the hidden victims too - children.

"It was also an area that did not discriminate; anyone could be a victim and anyone could be a perpetrator", she said.

The PSNI currently receive a report of a domestic incident every 19 minutes.

"It is clear to me that while there has been huge progress, the journey of responding to domestic abuse is far from over. Official police figures show that more and more victims are coming forward", said Ms Gillespie.

"I wanted to highlight that there are many avenues of help and support for those suffering domestic abuse, that our laws need to catch up with developments elsewhere, and finally that children need to know what healthy and appropriate relationships look like", she added.