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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Damien Edgar

Police arrest 39 people in NI operation targeting violence against women and girls

There were 39 arrests made across Northern Ireland on Tuesday, as police targeted those linked to violence against women and girls.

A 24-hour operation was put in place to arrest those wanted on bench warrants linked to domestic abuse motivated investigations, those who have committed offences under the new domestic abuse offence, breaches of protective orders, sexual offences and threats to commit criminal damage.

PSNI Detective Superintendent Lindsay Fisher said it showed the police's determination to tackle the highly prevalent crime.

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"Over 20% of crimes reported to police each year have a domestic motivation," she said.

"We would answer a call with a domestic motivation around about every 16 minutes - it's a huge amount of resources but it's also a huge strategic priority, we do put that focus behind it.

"The operation yesterday was a targeted approach against those who are perpetrating violence against women and girls.

"We made 39 offences during that 24-hour period. Some of those perpetrators are those that have been actively evading police for some time and others are those who had committed live-time offences during that 24-hour period."

Of the arrests, 18 were made in the Derry/Strabane area, 13 were made in the PSNI's South Area and eight were made in Belfast.

It follows new legislation introduced earlier this year in Northern Ireland which gave police powers to tackle offences like coercive control.

Det Supt Fisher said she was keen to emphasise that yesterday's arrests formed part of ongoing efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

"This is something that happens every day, I want to make sure that that message really is known for victims.

"Have confidence, pick up the phone and report to police, we are responding every day but this was an opportunity to make it really clear to those perpetrators that you will not evade police.

"We will continue to search for you, we will continue to follow active lines of enquiry and we will bring you into custody."

The PSNI said those who were arrested would be facing questioning and normal investigative process would be followed.

"There will be those that will have been before the court today on bench warrants and those that will be under active investigation," said Det Supt Fisher.

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