Stark figures from The Police Service of Northern Ireland over the last few years show a significant spike in domestic abuse incidents over the festive holiday period.
They reveal that this includes psychological abuse with coercive and controlling behaviour creating fear in relationships and homes.
Last year during the December and January holiday periods, police received a call every 16 minutes related to domestic abuse. A total of 97 incidents and 65 crimes were reported on Christmas Day alone. On New Year's Day, the Police Service received reports of 161 incidents and 100 crimes of domestic abuse, an increase of 17 on the year before.
