115 safety orders issued by police

Latest police statistics show 115 police safety orders have been issued in Northland since the new law came into effect on July 1 last year.
The new law gives domestic violence victims greater protection by giving police power to order someone they suspect may be abusive to stay away from someone who may be in danger. That can be up to five days.
The safety orders formed part of the Domestic Violence Amendment Act 2009 and were used in situations when police believed a victim or potential victim was too scared to press charges.
Of the 115 orders issued 59 have been in the Far North and 56 in Kaipara/Whangarei to January 14.
Northland police community services manager for Whangarei and Kaipara Senior Sergeant Rob Nordstrom said the orders were not used if there was enough evidence to arrest someone.
"If there is any evidence of an offence being committed the offender will be arrested."
He described the time a person was not permitted to go to a victim's address as a "safe period" when the victim was not bombarded with physical or mental abuse.
It also allowed a victim to get access to other services including victim support, Child Youth and family or a family court lawyer to apply for a protection order.
If the offender breached an order they would be taken to court, Mr Nordstrom said.
Mid North Women's Refuge co-ordinator Leonette Beazley said the police safety orders were putting the onus on the perpetrators of domestic violence rather than their victims.
"It's enabled women and their children to stay at homes while the abuser has to go away and think about it and be responsible for their actions rather than revictimising the women and children by forcing them into unfamiliar surroundings."
Mr Norsdstrom said once the order was in place the victim could not invite the offender back.
"The victim can't just change their interpretation of how things are when they wake up the next morning. It gives police a real positive way of dealing with domestic violence incidents where we couldn't have done effectively."
"Domestic violence is a community problem. People need to report it and with this order we can help protect the victims and their families. It's about what we can do for the victims.
"They have an immediate effect and offer a period where victims have time and space to seek support and assistance, including applying for the likes of a temporary protection order."
A police safety order has the same standard conditions as protection orders and are valid for up to five days.