PSNI stations resembling ‘conflict barracks’ are a physical barrier to female victims of violence reporting crimes, it is claimed.
Slieve Gullion Sinn Fein rep, Declan Murphy raised concerns over Troubles era police stations in the district, saying: “I am on the PCSP (Policing and Community Safety Partnership) and I have been speaking about this for years.
“For example, a victim arriving into Ardmore police station in Newry, which looks more like a conflict barracks, even if they haven’t been assaulted, but there is just a potential of it, women and girls have to speak publicly in front of other people (at the station desk) to say what the issue is because there is no privacy.
“Small simple steps have yet to be addressed by the PSNI or by the justice system and that is just one perfect example of why people’s confidence is through the floor with the criminal justice system.”
In October, 22-year-old Mary Ward became the 24th woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020 when her body was discovered in a Belfast house.
In recent weeks, the public outcry on the rise of violence against women has witnessed thousands of people attend a rally in Derry in the wake of a number of attacks in the city.
In at least 20 of the 24 deaths the killers, or suspects, were well-known to the women, with 18 of the women being killed in their own homes.
Cllr Murphy added: “There is no doubt about it prevention is key. A part of prevention in my experience is deterrent and this is the difficulty that I come across and this is quite recent.
“There is a lot of talk about ending violence against women and girls but, the experience of victims is what are people doing about it?
“There was a court case that ended recently, where a multiple convicted rapist, is able to then engage in a campaign against another victim who has had the courage to go to the PSNI to report it, when there are so many who don’t.
“On the back of that the person got charged with four different offences, but his case ends up in the magistrates court, where the maximum is six month sentence and of course it is not going to go that far. And he gets a £250 fine for each offence.
“That just doesn’t affect the victim, it affects the whole community, so where is the deterrent?
“There is no confidence in the PPS or the criminal justice system to deal with these issues and that is why they become more prevalent and some people have it in the back of their heads that they can get away with it.
“It’s very frustrating and difficult as elected reps we end up speaking to a lot of the victims on the ground and we end up against a brick wall as we can’t change the system when those who work within it don’t see it.”
Councillor Murphy’s comments come after Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s (NMDDC) active and healthy committee heard a report this week from the Executive Office on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG).
Spokesperson for the Executive Office, Jane McCarthy responded: “To acknowledge what you are talking about, we have heard it and we have discussed it with the PSNI and the justice system.
“We have talked to people who have recognised those issues, and our next steps are how we address them together.
“We have come to this starting from scratch. The one thing we are going with the justice system at the minute is looking at the justice journey.
“We will talk with women and girls who have gone through the journey of the justice system and what it is they need on the way, so that we can support them with what they need, when they feel that they can’t go on.
“It’s one piece of a very big jigsaw that needs looking at to build confidence in the system and let women and girls feel that they are being listened to, looked after and helped through the system so that they get a better result from it.”
Its new 2024-26 Stormont strategy will provide £200k in grants over the next two years to fund communities and the voluntary sector in the district.
