PSNI deal with domestic abuse call 'every 18 minutes'
The PSNI have revealed that they deal with a domestic abuse call every 18 minutes.
It comes as the police launched their summer campaign against the crime, with figures spiking over the summer months.
From 1 July 2016 to 31 August 2016, there were 4,960 incidents, up 165 from the same period the previous year.
Over the period between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017, there were 29,166 domestic abuse incidents recorded to the police.
That was the highest level since the data started being recorded in 2004/05.
Detective Superintendent Ryan Henderson said that domestic abuse didn't always manifest in the form of violence.
"Often it starts with psychological control," he said.
"That's where a victim is made uncomfortable leaving the home, going out and socialising.
"That then encompasses threats to them, to their family, their friends that's domestic abuse.
"It's unique as a type of crime because it really is bound up in relationships between people and that can be very complex.
The PSNI have been working with the Women's Aid Federation and Men's Advisory Project on training their officers on how best to identify signs of domestic abuse and how best to deal with it.
A 24-hour Domestic and Sexual Helpline is available to anyone who has concerns about domestic or sexual violence, now or in the past on 0808 802 1414.