THE SDLP’s Derry Assembly representative Sinéad McLaughlin has called for a programme that trains GPs to recognise the signs of domestic abuse to be extended to the Derry City & Strabane district.
Said the Foyle MLA: “I am determined to use my platform at the Assembly to tackle the scourge of domestic abuse, which is unfortunately still prevalent in our society.
“PSNI figures have shown that Derry City & Strabane policing district had the third highest number of domestic abuse incidents recorded between April 2021 and March 2022.
“This is unacceptable and we need to redouble our efforts to ensure that we are using every lever of government at our disposal to deal with these heinous crimes.
“Following positive feedback about the initial phase of the Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) programme, that trains GPs in how to recognise signs of domestic abuse, I have written to the Health Minister to ask him to consider extending the pilot of this programme to the Derry City & Strabane district, so that we can be assured that we are doing everything possible to tackle domestic abuse in our community once and for all.”
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