PSNI Every Victim Matters Campaign Visual
Men experiencing domestic abuse are encouraged to seek support
A new police campaign to highlight the impact of domestic violence against men has been welcomed by a victim support charity.
The PSNI has launched its Every Victim Matters campaign, which aims to challenge misconceptions and encourage men experiencing domestic abuse to seek support.
Some 5,817 domestic abuse crimes against men were recorded by police between April 2025 and March 2026.
Men made up almost a third (32pc) of all domestic abuse victims, with the crimes carrying a sanction rate of around 19pc.
Kerry Brennan, Detective Superintendent (PSNI)
Detective Superintendent Kerry Brennan said it was the job of police to “protect without prejudice”.
“Officers have stood in living rooms where the silence says more than any statement ever could,” she said.
“Men sitting there, shoulders hunched, eyes fixed on the floor — not because they’ve done something wrong, but because they’ve been made to feel they don’t deserve to be heard.
“Domestic abuse doesn’t wear one face, and it certainly doesn’t check your gender before it destroys your confidence, your safety, and your sense of self.
“Abuse is abuse. It’s not a lesser crime because the victim is male, and it’s not something to be minimised or joked about.
“Every victim deserves dignity, support, and to know that the law stands firmly on their side. When we fail to recognise that, we don’t just fail individuals — we reinforce the very stigma that keeps people trapped.
“So I say this clearly: if you are a man experiencing domestic abuse, you are not weak, and you are not alone. Speaking up is not a failure of strength — it’s the first act of reclaiming it.
“Your voice matters just as much as anyone else’s. We will listen, and we will act.”
Rhonda Lusty, CEO of the Men’s Advisory Project
Rhonda Lusty, CEO of the Men’s Advisory Project, a charity that supports more than 1,000 men and boys affected by domestic abuse, welcomed the new campaign’s message that men who come forward will be listened to.
“Many of the men who come through our doors have lived with abuse, coercive control, fear and isolation for a very long time before they tell anyone what is happening to them,” she said.
“Domestic abuse can happen to any man, at any age and from any background. It can happen within an intimate relationship or within a family.
“It is not always physical and it is not somehow less serious because the person experiencing it is male. The consequences can be life-changing and, tragically, they can be life-ending.
“Our message to any man experiencing abuse is very simple: what is happening to you matters. You can speak to the police and you can speak to us.
“The Men’s Advisory Project are specialists, and we are here for you and your needs.”
The campaign is also backed by Justice Minister Naomi Long, who said speaking up was the “first step in the road to recovery”.
“The reality is that anyone can become a victim of domestic abuse and that’s why this campaign is so important,” she said.
This campaign will help to increase awareness that men are affected by intimate partner abuse, and that they should never feel ashamed or unable to seek help.”
Source: Domestic abuse against men: police say seek help now | Belfast Telegraph