Mum wants MPs to give protection orders teeth

A Napier woman is vowing her daughter, husband and grandchildren will not become domestic violence statistics and has taken her concerns regarding protection orders to Napier MP Chris Tremain.

The woman, who Hawke's Bay Today has chosen not to name to protect her family, has witnessed her daughter's former partner breach a protection order in place against him up to nine times over the past two months.

She said the man appeared in court last week and was given 75 hours community work for three breaches against her daughter and other unrelated offending.

"He went out and found her literally hours later. She called the police and they didn't come out, they told her to come into the station and make a report."

According to the police website the maximum penalty for breach of a protection order is six months in prison or a $5000 fine.

The penalty increases to two years in prison where three breaches of an order are committed within three years.

"Enough is enough, we need these protection orders tightened up," the woman said yesterday.

"After the court appearance last week when he found her again straight away I just thought this isn't funny. They should be getting jail time and they're not. I think they should be."

She began an online campaign earlier in the month and said she has had many messages of support.

"I've posted it on Facebook, Trade Me, garage sale sites ... people have been sharing stories and offering to help me.

"We're not the only ones in this situation."

The woman met Chris Tremain yesterday morning to discuss moving the campaign from the internet into a petition to take to Parliament.

"We want to petition Parliament to bring in the harsher penalties that these guys should be getting. My family aren't going to become statistics."

Mr Tremain said he sympathised with the woman and her daughter.

"Over the last eight years I've only had two or three women come and see me about protection orders. I know it takes a fair bit to get on the phone to an MP or to come into the office and I have huge sympathy for the woman's situation."

He said he had asked for the frustrations to be put into writing so that he can take the letter to Minister of Justice Judith Collins and offered his support with putting together the petition.

"I've said 'Look, I'm happy to help'. I can ensure the wording is right for the petition and once it's ready I'll be more than happy to furnish it to Parliament."