To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) for his assessment of domestic violence victims that are over 60 years of age; and (ii) to detail how his Department is working to raise awareness of age trends in relation to domestic violence.

My Department does not gather statistics on the age profile of victims of domestic violence. PSNI statistics for 2014/15 indicate that 5% of domestic abuse crime victims were over 60. It is therefore clear that domestic violence and abuse can occur into older age.

Once the proposed Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse Strategy is published, the groups within the newly adopted governance structures will consider priorities going forward, including raising awareness of domestic violence in relation to all victims.