Wiltshire Police reach milestone in domestic violence protection project
10:20am Monday 6th February 2012 in News
Magristrates granted Wiltshire Police the 100th Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) in Swindon on Friday.
The force is taking part in a year-long Home Office pilot under which new civil powers can be used to stop a perpetrator molesting the victim or going near the victim’s home for between 14 and 28 days.
In Friday’s hearing, the court approved a DVPO for the maximum 28 days. The male perpetrator, who is not being named to protect the anonymity of his victim and her children, must not molest his partner or enter her home. In addition, he must not bar her from the address.
The victim went to Gablecross Police Station in Swindon on Wednesday to report that she had been suffering physical and psychological abuse inflicted by her partner.
The woman said she needed support to end their long-term relationship.
She did not feel strong enough to cope with supporting a criminal prosecution, but was emotionally and physically tired of his verbal abuse and controlling behaviour.
The woman did, however, welcome the idea of Wiltshire Police applying to magistrates for a DVPO.
She told officers she wanted to seek advice from a solicitor about the children and civil orders to protect her. She also wanted help from domestic abuse support agencies and saw that the DVPO would give her breathing space to get the advice she needed.
Her partner was arrested on Wednesday in Swindon.
Det Insp Matt Stone, who is the Force operational lead for domestic abuse, said: "This milestone shows the commitment by all parties involved in reducing domestic abuse in all its forms in our county.
"There have been few breaches of DVPOs, showing how effective the measure is in providing space to the victims of abuse to seek support and longer term solutions.
"The breaches have been dealt with robustly, including custodial sentences, to reinforce how seriously such behaviour is viewed.
"As well as providing space for the victims of abuse, it has helped some perpetrators recognise the cycle of abuse and the impact of their actions and to seek to break this pattern of behaviour."
A Domestic Violence Protection Notice (DVPN) has to be authorised before Wiltshire Police can go to court to seek an order.
A DVPN excludes the perpetrator from the address, or from approaching or molesting the victim, for 48 hours.
Officers then seek a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) from magistrates, which can be issued for 14, 21 or 28 days.
Two other forces, Greater Manchester and West Mercia, are taking part in the pilot which began in July 2011 and which will be evaluated by the Home Office before ministers decide whether to seek a change in the law.
