Police received 3,604 calls about domestic abuse incidents over festive period

This includes 110 calls on Christmas Day from victims and concerned loved ones, an increase of ten per cent from on the previous year.

On New Year’s Eve, the PSNI received 106 calls, an increase of five per cent on the year before.

In total, the PSNI received 3,604 calls around domestic abuse during its annual Operation Season’s Greetings, which ran between November 24 and January 2.

Detective Superintendent Lindsay Fisher said: “During the festive period, we often see reports of domestic abuse increase on key dates, like Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

“Although these figures are shocking, we know that a large number of incidents still go unreported to police and we will continue to encourage all victims to reach out to us for help.

“Behind each one of the statistics is a victim who, statistics suggest, has endured up to 35 incidents of abuse before coming forward to report.

“We are determined to do all we can to protect them and bring perpetrators to justice.

“During this year’s festive operation we made 753 arrests for domestic abuse offences, an increase of nearly 15 per cent compared to last year. 340 of these resulted in a charge, an increase of nearly 17 per cent.

Det Supt Fisher added: “Domestic abuse, in all its forms, has no place in our society and tackling these crimes remains one of PSNI’s top priorities.”