Justice spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA said, “Last week, a Belfast woman was given four months in jail for harassing her ex-partner and sending abusive messages. The same week, a 38-year-old man was given a suspended jail sentence for slapping a 14-year-old girl. This raises several questions.

“What are the benefits of a jail sentence of twelve months or less? Yes, punishment, possibly a deterrent, but certainly not rehabilitation or protection of the public. I feel, in this instance, there could have been a better way of dealing with it using other diversionary methods. 

“On the other hand, violence, particularly violence against a young girl, seems not to have been taken as seriously. Slapping a 14-year-old girl might seem on the lower scale of violence, and it is, but what is the effect on this young girl? And setting this case aside, does a slap lead to a punch, does a punch lead to more serious violence? For me, ending violence against women and girls needs three elements: education, not just in schools, which is important, but also how do you reach the parents, how do you engage the opinion formers. Education must be more than just explaining a healthy relationship, but must include understanding a functional home or social environment.

“Secondly, empowerment. Those who are being abused, who are facing derogatory and demeaning language or who are at the sharp end of violence must be empowered to come forward and not accept it in silence. Those witnessing such behaviour must also be empowered to report it and not see it as something we have come to expect. Lastly deterrent, we must ensure that violence is seen for what it is, an insidious, callous attempt to silence, control, hurt, dehumanise, and demean. To stop it, we need to make an example of those who think casual violence, like slapping a 14-year-old girl, is acceptable.

“Of course, these cases are set for many by a newspaper headline that doesn’t tell the whole story, but they outline the fine line our judiciary is treading and, in my belief, getting it wrong. The disparity and lack of consistency in sentencing are undermining confidence and are not meeting our grant aims of ending violence against women and girls, or indeed ending casual violence against anyone. That is why I believe we must have a Sentencing Council for Northern Ireland, and I hope the Justice Minister will consider this as part of her Sentencing Bill due in the Autumn.”