Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie MLA has raised serious concerns about how cases of non-fatal strangulation are being handled within Northern Ireland’s criminal justice system. While recognising the Executive Office’s commitment to ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Mr Beattie said, “Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a priority for our Executive Office, but it doesn’t seem to translate within our Criminal Justice System. I have raised the issue of overly lenient sentences for individuals charged and found guilty of crimes of a sexual nature with the Public Prosecution Service (PPS). However, my concerns persist following a question to the Justice Minister regarding non-fatal strangulation.

“Non-fatal strangulation is a serious crime; it was the present Minister who brought it in, and she should be commended for that. However, the reality of how non-fatal strangulation is dealt with raises real concerns about the VAWG strategy.

“In 2023-2024, there were 344 prosecutions for non-fatal strangulation, which could have easily led to serious harm, mental distress, and even death, making it attempted manslaughter. Yet only 15 of these cases were heard in the Crown Court, with 329 being heard in the Magistrates’ Court. 

“To put this in context, if an individual is found guilty of non-fatal strangulation in the Magistrates’ Court, the maximum he can receive is just two years, and this cannot be appealed as unduly lenient. For non-fatal strangulation in the Crown Court, the sentence could be up to 14 years.

“If VAWG is going to be tackled, we need to use education as our main tool, empowerment to ensure young men and women come forward to challenge behaviour resulting in this type of crime, but if all fails, we need to ensure we have a deterrent in the form of sentences that match the crime that also act as punishment.

“It’s difficult to see how the PPS decides a charge of non-fatal strangulation has passed the evidential test and then sends it to a magistrate’s court. It is also concerning that of the 344 prosecutions, only 69 resulted in conviction, and of that, only 28 received a prison sentence”. 

ENDS