Police Chief Warns Officer Shortage Impedes Efforts Against Violence Against Women

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has issued a warning that the insufficient number of police officers is impacting his force’s capacity to address violence against women and girls (VAWG). The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) presently employs approximately 6,300 officers, marking the lowest figure in its 23-year existence. During a Policing Board meeting held in Belfast, he stated his belief that he is “of the view our effectiveness has and continues to suffer significantly”. Since the year 2020, 24 women in Northern Ireland have been victims of violent killings. At a policing board session on Thursday, Chief Constable Boutcher reiterated his appeals for increased funding, a request he has made consistently since assuming his role just over a year prior. He recently presented a “recovery programme” to the Department of Justice (DoJ), designed to increase officer numbers to 7,000 by 2028. This initiative is projected to incur costs of approximately £80m. The Department of Justice provides financial support to the PSNI through its portion of Stormont’s block grant. He informed the board, stating: “We need more resources or there will be high harm crimes committed that could otherwise be prevented.” He added, “We continue to work tirelessly to ensure that women and girls can live their lives free from fear, intimidation and harassment.” However, he emphasized, “But we need the officers to do this.” He highlighted that Stormont’s proposed programme for government designated addressing violence against women and girls and fostering safer communities as key priorities. He further clarified, “Let me again be clear.” He concluded by stating, “We no longer have the resources to adequately deliver against these priorities.” This declaration coincides with schoolboys in west Belfast receiving education on identifying and confronting violence against women and girls. Michael, a student attending St. Mary’s Christian Brothers Grammar School, commented that “everyone has a responsibility to protect women,” and stressed the importance of educating young individuals on these matters. He recounted, “I’ve seen things happen to women in public transport systems, or just walking down the street.” He further asserted, “We need to be the generation that breaks the cycle.” The training, provided by White Ribbon NI, an organization dedicated to eradicating VAWG through public awareness and educational initiatives, incorporated discussions about the attitudes and convictions that can contribute to male violence against women. This particular session marked the first instance the group had been invited to conduct a program at an all-boys school within Northern Ireland. The curriculum encompassed case study exercises, instruction on secure methods for intervening in troubling circumstances, and techniques for handling disclosures from victims. Michael remarked, “These case studies are relatable. We all have a responsibility to protect everyone.” He added, “We need to be the generation that breaks the cycle, as we’ve seen recently with the wave of murders that happened against women, especially in the domestic place.” The curriculum instructed students on secure approaches to voice concerns regarding misogynistic viewpoints among their peers or within the broader community. Another student, Corey, expressed that acquiring the skills to confront individuals exhibiting misogynistic or aggressive behavior towards women has been “truly important.” He further commented, “It is tough to stand up to your friends, but personally I think it’s more tough to stand up to people you don’t know.” He elaborated, “We’ve been talking about women we know, statistics about how much women are affected by violence, and we have been having very open discussions, which makes it relatable to everyone.” He concluded, “By hitting close to home, hitting close to us, we understand it’s really important to talk about things.” The utilization of education as a means to combat violence against women and girls has received endorsement from both activists and a Stormont strategy. In 2023, the Stormont action plan characterized violence against women and girls as encompassing everything from “everyday misogynistic attitudes and damaging social norms to harmful unwanted behaviours and serious criminal offences,” and advocated for teaching children about healthy relationships. During the same year, a district judge similarly stated that children and young individuals ought to be educated about domestic violence within schools. Tahnee McCorry, the founder of White Ribbon NI, affirmed that the boys possess “a massive role to play in ending violence against women and girls.” She cautioned that “The strategic framework to end VAWG has been launched, but it will be nothing but a pile of pages on a desk or a file on a computer if they don’t put their all behind it.” She stated: “They are the generation which can make change, and we need men and boys to step in and be part of the solution. “Hopefully we’ve given them and equipped them to be able to do that.” The initiative is named Listen Learn Lead. Ms McCorry explained, “It’s about listening to the voices of women, learning about the culture which has allowed VAWG to continue.” She added, “Giving bystander intervention techniques to be able to challenge the ideas and attitudes which keep violence against women and girls in everyday scenarios.” The organization intends to broaden the program’s reach and implement it in additional schools throughout the nation. Brendan McComb, the principal of St Mary’s CBGS, remarked that serving as the sole all-boys grammar school in west Belfast “comes with a sense of responsibility and leadership.” He concluded, “It’s great to see our boys stepping up.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.