Stormont politicians to hear about concerns for women's safety in Londonderry

The issue of women's safety in Londonderry will be raised at Stormont later by Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin

It follows a recent spate of attacks on women in Derry.

At the weekend there were two sexually motivated knifepoint attacks, while the previous weekend two sexual assaults were reported.

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin said, “There is huge concern in our city following a number of recent attacks on women."

"I am seeing details of self-defence classes being shared online and women and their families having real fear about them heading out on their own. Mothers are having to caution their daughters to take care when out and about and this should not be happening.”

“Every woman lives with the fear that something like this could happen to them, whether on a night our or simply going about their life. This has been an accepted fact and tolerated within our society for far too long, we have a serious issue here and we have to get to grips with it.”

“I will be raising this directly on the floor of the Assembly. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the events of the last week in our city, the victims are uppermost in our thoughts, but behind closed doors there will be many women who have had similar experiences and this will have brought it all back.”

Speaking after incidents this weekend, PSNI Detective Inspector Ross Olphert said: “We understand that there will be concern in the community at a second knifepoint attack on a woman in just two days, with this latest one occurring during daylight hours, however I can assure residents that a focused, tactical patrolling plan - which includes a high visibility police presence in key areas such as our local parks - has been implemented and there will be an increased police presence across the city in coming days.”

“We are carrying out a number of enquiries to establish if there is any definitive link between these two attacks, I can assure residents that there is no link to attacks in the city centre last week. In both of those cases a suspect has been identified and those cases are ongoing.”

“We are engaging with our communities and partners in the city around what we can do, as a collective, to ensure women and girls feel safe and empowered to go about their lives without fear.”

“In the interim I would ask that if you notice someone acting suspiciously or if a person’s behaviour causes you concern, do not approach and instead call police immediately.