Opinion

Allison Morris: Domestic abuse victims failed by chaotic political process

The Domestic Abuse Bill is currently stalled due to political crisis
The Domestic Abuse Bill is currently stalled due to political crisis The Domestic Abuse Bill is currently stalled due to political crisis

I could easily write a column a week about the political failings that we here in the north have had to endure, both during a period of devolved dysfunctionally and since the collapse of Stormont two years ago.

There is little that should surprise or shock us in that respect, given recent disclosures.

When politics fails to deliver, as it has in the north, it is always those most in need who feel it first.

The south, recovering from a savage recession, is now one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, with social change happening at a rapid pace.

Not without its problems, there is however a push to introduce practical measures that will help change decades of societal neglect of women and children in their own home.

On January 1, the Republic introduced new laws to help protect those women - and men - experiencing domestic violence and control within the home.

Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan said at the time the new legislation will improve the protections available to victims of domestic violence under both civil and criminal law.

One of the key new protections for victims under criminal law is the creation of a new offence of coercive control - the psychological abuse that causes fear of violence, or serious alarm or distress.

Coercive control is a part of almost every abusive relationship and is often the pattern of behaviour that starts long before violence is introduced.

Isolating victims from family or friends, controlling who they speak to, where they go and what they wear.

Financial control means even if a woman feels strong enough to leave an abusive relationship, she has no means to do so.

Having covered this type of violence for many years, both by speaking to victims and covering court cases, this type of control features heavily in every case.

Women’s Aid, who deal with victims of abuse, are only too aware of the impact controlling relationships can have on the mental wellbeing of the victim.

We can count the victims of femicide through official statistics, but what of those who take their own lives after years and even decades of abuse and violence? Those numbers are not known.

Threats of public shaming, fear of being blamed or judged or losing access to children all form part of coercive control relationships.

In England since the law has been introduced there have been several convictions. One man wouldn’t let his young partner wash for months, his reasoning being if she was dirty no other man would look at her.

Now also a law in the south, campaigners will be watching closely to see how the legislation is applied.

The Republic has also extended the civil process to include non molestation and harassment orders for those in dating relationships.

Previously in the south - and currently in Northern Ireland - the orders are only available to people who have lived with or had children to an abusive or harassing partner.

In Northern Ireland the Domestic Abuse Bill should have been in force by now, the heavy lifting on the bill was already done when the last justice minister Claire Sugden was in post.

The collapse of the assembly two years ago leaves the future of the bill in doubt.

Jan Melia, from Women's Aid, said it was "hugely frustrating" that the bill was "just sitting there gathering dust".

The bill also includes stalking laws. Many people will be shocked to know we have no legislation in place in Northern Ireland to cover stalking.

Instead the PSNI must work with outdated harassment legislation.

According to PSNI statistics, there were 29,166 domestic abuse incidents recorded in 2016-17, the most in more than a decade.

The Department of Justice has said the new legislation can only be taken forward once a minister is in post.

However, the department says it continues to work with key stakeholders including Women's Aid, the police and the Public Prosecution Service in the development of a new bill to address domestic abuse.

Once again the most vulnerable members of society in Northern Ireland have been failed by a chaotic political process.

It is not good enough to say that we need an assembly to bring forward legislation that exists in every other part of these islands.

In the absence of devolution it is for Westminster to step in and introduce laws that will protect women and children in the one place where they are most at risk of violence, abuse and even murder - their own home.

:: If you or someone you know is at risk you can contact the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24 hour helpline on 0808 802 1414.