It’s part of a national trial taking place in Greater Manchester
DAPOs are being rolled out in Tameside(Image: ABNM Photography)
New powers to stop domestic abuse have been rolled out in another Greater Manchester borough.
Four Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) have already been issued in Tameside since the scheme was extended to the borough earlier this month. They make up more than 300 orders secured across Greater Manchester since a trial began last year.
Greater Manchester Police is one of three forces across the country taking part in the two-year national pilot for the new DAPOs.
The new type of order was first launched in Bury last November before being rolled out in Wigan and Manchester earlier this year.
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On July 7, Tameside became the fourth borough in Greater Manchester to take part in the trial with four orders already issued there.
Victims can apply for a DAPO directly or through an advocate, but most of the orders issued so far have been requested by police.
Police can apply for a court to issue a DAPO, even if the victim does not want one, if they believe it is necessary to keep them safe.
Breaching the order is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison. Several offenders have been jailed for breaches so far.
It comes as the Manchester Evening News campaigns to strengthen protective orders with a minimum prison sentence for breaches.
The campaign was launched last year in memory of Caroline Gore who was killed by her abusive ex-partner at her flat in Wigan, less than four weeks after he was spared jail for a second breach of a two-year restraining order which prohibited him from contacting her.
Unlike Domestic Violence Protection Orders which the DAPOs are replacing, these new orders issued by courts are not time limited.
Last month, a 10-year DAPO was secured to protect a woman in Bury. It is thought to be the longest such order issued so far in the UK.
Domestic abuse help
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, below you’ll find a list of organisations who can assist you:
Call the UK police non-emergency number, 101, if you need support or advice from the police and it’s not an emergency. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101.
Greater Manchester Domestic Abuse Helpline – Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, except bank holidays. For anyone experiencing domestic abuse. Includes a language service and advice for the LGBT community.
End the Fear – Includes information on local help all over Greater Manchester.
Wigan and Leigh Dias drop-in centre – Works with women and men who are experiencing or recovering from domestic violence and abusive relationships and helps them to regain control of the situation.
Other support available can be found via: www.gmp.police.uk.
Detective Superintendent Jen Tattersall, GMP’s domestic abuse lead, said: “The DAPO pilot so far has been an overwhelming success, and we are working closely with the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to ensure that our roll out can continue across the force, therefore protecting more victims and survivors.
“Whilst we are of course still actively pursuing perpetrators criminally first and foremost, we understand the complexities of domestic abuse and that sending perpetrators to prison is not what every victim or survivor wants.
“These orders allow us to protect them with or without their support or evidence, if we believe there is a risk posed to that person.
“The length of some of these orders, like the one secured in Bury recently, provide much more time than previous orders for survivors to get space from perpetrators, and make decisions in their own time about the future.
“Our intention is to continue rolling the pilot out across the force and make a positive difference to the lives of those impacted by abuse of all kinds.”