TOUGHER sentences for those who violently abuse a partner in front of children will form part of the new Domestic Abuse Bill, in a move unique to Northern Ireland.
Naomi Long has vowed to make updated domestic abuse legislation a priority during her time as justice minister, with new laws expected to be in force by the end of 2020.
She said the bill is "quite far developed at the minute" and she hopes to have it introduced to the assembly in April or May.
"We might even be able to do it earlier than that, depending on how we get on through the executive," she said.
"We would hope it will be finished at the end of the year. Again that will depend on committee scrutiny and whether there are amendments brought to it."
Northern Ireland is currently the only jurisdiction in the UK without specific legislation on coercive control and stalking.
The minister said the new law will recognise psychological and financial control and abuse and "it will also have aggravators in it for things like children being exposed or witnessing domestic abuse".
"That wouldn't have been possible with the legislation going through Westminster but is something that we're able to do."
The minister has met with victims of domestic violence and stalking.
Among them is Ciara Hindman (26), who spoke to The Irish News in January about a terrifying campaign of harassment she was subjected to after ending a relationship with her partner of two years.
Mrs Long added that abuse of the family court system by habitual offenders to harass their victims financially, as raised by stalking victims, could be dealt with via reforms and training.
"Some of that doesn't necessarily require legislation," she said.
"Thankfully because of advocates who have spoken out it is allowing us to pick up on areas within the court system and legal aid that are being exploited by those engaging in coercive control and abuse.
"We need to find ways of working with the judiciary, with the court system, with the police and with others to train them up to see that as abuse and put in measures to deal with it."
