11/02/2023

There has been an 18% increase in calls for help from domestic violence victims to gardaí over the last year as well as a 14% increase in detections for breaches of court orders.

There has been an 18% increase in calls for help from domestic violence victims to gardaí over the last year as well as a 14% increase in detections for breaches of court orders. 
An Garda Síochána announced a new phase of Operation Faoiseamh, which they say entails a renewed focus on the enforcement of court orders and the prosecution of offenders.
Operation Faoiseamh forms part of the force’s community engagement response to Covid-19. It began on 1 April with the goal of providing enhanced proactive support to victims of domestic abuse. 
Divisional Protective Services Units have now been established in every Garda division.  
The head of the National Bureau, Detective Chief Superintendent Declan Daly, has stressed that travel restrictions do not apply to victims of domestic violence or anyone helping them escape a risk of harm. 
The launch of phase three of Operation Faoiseamh is a further drive to arrest and bring before the courts offenders who have breached domestic violence legislation and in particular court orders, according to gardaí. 
Incidents of domestic violence and detections of the crime have increased since the operation was established. 
Calls to gardaí are up 18% year on year, detections for breaches of court orders increased by 14% and 107 people are facing prosecution.
Gardaí also said they had made over 15,000 contacts with, or attempts to contact, victims of domestic abuse this year.
Detective Chief Superintendent Daly said the operation is in place to ensure domestic violence victims feel safe and assured them that gardaí will respond “quickly and robustly” to their calls.