HC Deb 09 February 2000 vol 344 cc187-8W
12. Mrs. Irene Adams

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to reduce crimes of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. [107686]

22. Ms Moran

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to reduce crimes of domestic violence in Northern Ireland. [107701]

Mr. Ingram

Domestic violence is an abuse of human rights and cannot be tolerated in a civilised society. Our policy in this area aspires to the eradication of domestic violence in all its forms. The Northern Ireland Regional Forum on Domestic Violence was established in 1995 to bring together Government Departments, other public bodies and voluntary organisations to promote cooperation and liaison in this area. The forum has four main policy aims: to heighten awareness of domestic violence, highlighting domestic assault as a crime, to improve services to victims to challenge perpetrators' attitudes and behaviour and to improve the information base.