Greater Manchester Police will take part in a pilot scheme aimed at 'cracking down' on domestic abusers by introducing new, tougher measures, it has been announced.
They are one of three forces nationwide to participate in the trial, which will see courts able to impose requirements such as attendance to perpetrator behaviour change programmes, alongside electronic monitoring and making it mandatory for offenders to notify the police of name and address changes.
The new measures, which are set to come in this summer, will also see coercive and controlling behaviour put on par with physical violence, with offenders that are sentenced to a year or more for the charge to be recorded on a ‘Violent and Sex Offender register'.
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Violence against women and girls will be classified as a national threat for policing and will be added as a strategic policing requirement for the first time, with officers saying it will be treated 'as seriously as threats like terrorism, serious and organised crime, and child sexual abuse'.
Detective Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, Head of Public Protection at GMP said she is 'delighted' that the force has been chosen alongside Gwent and three London boroughs (Croydon, Bromley, and Sutton), to pilot the scheme.
She added it was a reflection of the force's 'significant improvements made in our arrangements towards domestic abuse'.
Police say the measures will offer 'flexible, longer-term protection for victims', including an additional 18 'safe space' centres across the UK, where victims can receive emergency help and offered support from the police or support services.
Greater Manchester will also see beefed up court powers to order attendance at perpetrator behaviour change programmes, electronic monitoring, and making it mandatory for offenders to notify the police of name and address changes. Breach of any requirement will be a criminal offence, resulting in up to five years in prison, a fine or a combination of both.
DCS Kerr said: "“In the last 12 months alone, we have more than doubled the amount of domestic abuse violence protective notices that we have issued. There will no longer need to be violence involved to meet the rounds for an order to be issued. This will particularly strengthen our opportunities around coercive control and can be used all types of domestic abuse whether it be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial.
“The pilot will be a joint endeavour between Greater Manchester Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, Courts, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and local authorities across Greater Manchester. We anticipate that this pilot will be officially launched in June 2023. We will ensure that we maximise every opportunity that this gives us to better protect victims and reassure the public that we’re all working together to improve our response to domestic abuse.
“If you are a victim of domestic abuse, know someone who is or has been affected by domestic abuse or violence, we can support you. We would urge those who are being domestically abused in any form to contact us directly. GMP can also put you in touch with other support organisations that understand your specific needs. Do not suffer in silence, you are not alone.”
To report Domestic Abuse to Greater Manchester Police, please call 101 or report using the online reporting tool on our website: www.gmp.police.uk. Always dial 999 in an emergency. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101.
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