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Greater Manchester Police (GMP) welcomed the Safeguarding Minister last week to meet specialists in its domestic abuse team who have led the way in protecting victims from harm, thanks to the introduction of a Home Office pilot.
GMP officers discussed with Jess Phillips MP how they are protecting victims of domestic abuse better than before thanks to the use of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs), with almost 60 orders already granted by courts in GM since its launch three months ago.
This includes coercive and controlling abuser Christopher David Cullen (16/01/1989), from Bury, who only yesterday (25 February), was jailed for more than two years for his crimes, given a four-year DAPO, and must additionally submit to electronic monitoring for a period of 12 months beginning at the time of his release from custody.
DAPOs are being used to protect victims from all types of domestic abuse offences, whether that be physical, sexual, or coercive and controlling behaviour. They are already having an impact in our pilot areas of Manchester, Bury, and Wigan.
They can be granted for any length of time, may require ‘positive requirements’ for perpetrators such as electronic monitoring or attendance at a behaviour change programme, and any breach is an arrestable criminal offence.
One key benefit for victims is that DAPO applications do not require a victim to attend or provide evidence at court. Police work with local partners to compile all necessary information for the courts to authorise the sought-after orders.
Just last week, a further four 12-month orders were secured by the DAPO team across GMP’s pilot areas, with the victim-focussed applications being tailor-made to fully serve and protect the people at the heart of them.
GMP officers are working hard to ensuring these lifechanging orders are reaching victims who may otherwise have not been protected. They are potentially stopping offenders from going on to seriously, or perhaps even fatally, harm someone.
“To see these new orders in use and protecting people is really important – in the short time since they were launched, they have already provided greater safety for victims and more robust management for perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women & Girls Jess Phillips.
“We welcome the work that has been delivered so far by all of the forces involved, particularly in pursuing breaches of these orders which is incredibly important to build victim confidence.
“We will continue working with the police and other partners to put victims at the heart of our work. We will make sure they receive the best protections possible, part of our ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.”
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