DOMESTIC violence offenders could be banned from their own home for up to a month due to a radical new way of tackling domestic abuse.

People suspected of beating their partners could be banned from their own homes – even if they are not charged with any offence.

It is the result of a new police tactic being launched this week in Wiltshire after the county was selected as one of three to pilot the year-long scheme.

Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders (DVPN/DVPO) are aimed at perpetrators who present a continuing threat of violence to the victim.

Under the scheme, the suspect can be banned from returning to the victim’s address,which might also be the suspect’s home.

Such measures which are commonly known as “Go orders” have been in place in a number of European countries for some time and the pilot involves Wiltshire police along with Greater Manchester and West Mercia Police and will be assessed by the Home Office.

Chief inspector Steve Hedley, the divisional commander for Swindon said: “Now, if a person is arrested for domestic violence, we often get a situation where we know this has gone on but we can’t prove it.

“It’s her word against his. No other evidence whatsoever. Currently we’re in the horrible situation where we have to release the man. We can’t charge them because there’s no evidence.”

But from July 1, officers can apply to a police superintendent to authorise a domestic violence prevention notice.

This would mean the person, once released from the police station, could not go back to the home for 48 hours.

After that, the case will be heard before a magistrates’ court and magistrates can then authorise an order barring them from returning for between 14 and 24 days. Up until this point it is purely a civil matter.

But if the perpetrator breaks the terms of the order, they face a criminal record, and possible jail.

Supt Steve Hedley said: “It’s to give the victim freedom and space for other agencies to intervene in peace. It’s not a conviction. It’s purely designed to give that space to the victim and sometimes the children, to ascertain whether they want to stay there or not.”

The whole scheme is the brainchild of DCI Caroline Evely and Wiltshire chief constable Brian Moore.

They came up with it on a visit to Vienna in 2009, when they saw a similar scheme in operation.