How has the law changed

The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 provides for a range of protections for victims including making common assault an arrestable offence.  Northern Ireland implemented this power in July 2007.  Subsequent changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, has extended this power of arrest to all offences and not just common assault.

Therefore if a constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence has been committed, he may arrest without a warrant anyone whom he has reasonable grounds to suspect of being guilty of it.

It is PSNI policy to investigate all reported incidents of domestic abuse in a consistent, robust and proactive manner.  Police officers will take positive action at all domestic incidents to prevent crime, ensure public safety and protect the rights and freedoms of all parties, in particular the victim.  Positive action will be taken at all domestic incidents and officers will consider the incident as a whole, gather alternative evidence in order to charge and where possible build a prosecution that does not rely entirely on the evidence of the victim.