PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of MPs that the force faces significant capacity issues in dealing with violence against women and girls. He prioritised the issue within the PSNI and commissioned a review of incident handling alongside a cultural audit of internal behaviours over the past 12 months.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn told the House of Commons that Northern Ireland ranks as the most dangerous part of the UK for women facing violence. He noted amendments to the Troubles Bill to allow investigation of sexual offences from that period by a commission or the PSNI.

Committee chairwoman Tonia Antoniazzi stated that 30 women died violently in Northern Ireland since 2020. Boutcher offered condolences to the family of Amy Doherty, killed in Londonderry, where police opened a murder investigation and arrested a man.

Boutcher met the family of Chloe Mitchell, killed in Co Antrim in 2023, and spoke to the lead officer in the Natalie McNally case. Stephen McCullagh received a conviction at Belfast Crown Court for McNally's murder in Lurgan in December 2022.

Boutcher referenced Katie Simpson's death in 2020, initially treated as suicide, where Jonathan Creswell faced murder charges before dying in April last year. He also cited Alexander McCartney from Newry, sentenced to 20 years in 2024 for online sexual abuse of children and manslaughter of a 12-year-old girl. The Police Ombudsman found PSNI lacked sufficient resources for such cases.

Education Minister Paul Givan said many cases of violence against women and girls fail to reach court, discouraging victims. He pointed to the Natalie McNally prosecution as proof the justice system can succeed. Givan called for coordinated action across education, justice, and society, including addressing court processes that lead victims to withdraw.