New order lets police remove aggressors

Heather Henare, chief executive of the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges Inc. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Police will be able to issue safety orders from tomorrow that remove an aggressor from a premises, separating victims of domestic violence from their abuser for five days.

The orders can be made when police do not have enough evidence to make an immediate arrest and allow time for intervention by social agencies. They are part of a number of measures being introduced tomorrow to help victims of crime, including more financial help for families of murder victims and a national phoneline to handle phone requests from police for Victim Support help.

"Often police attend a job and although we suspect an offence may have been committed, or we believe one may well be committed, we are unable to charge a person and take them into custody," said Inspector Brigitte Nimmo, acting National Family Violence Co-ordinator.

The orders would allow at-risk people some "breathing room" and time to meet police and other agencies.

Ms Nimmo said that in some situations they could save a person's life. "It certainly plugs what has been a frustrating gap for police providing an effective way of intervening in a situation to protect families from violence."

Women's Refuge chief executive Heather Henare said the Police Safety Orders (PSOs) were another option for families affected by family violence.

"[An aggressor] may not have hurt [the family] but may be making threatening noises or his history is such that he has hurt them in the past. It means someone doesn't have to wait for an assault to take place or for it to escalate to call the police and get some help."

Ms Henare said the five days the threatening person was kept away were "critical" to get support.

She told the Herald she went to Perth, where PSOs already operate, to assess their impact.

"The general feedback we got from over there is women appreciated the opportunity to have some time out, to have some time to think. They felt it did give them a level of safety they hadn't had before."

They also learned of the danger that existed if refuge advocates did not work alongside at-risk women when a PSO was issued.

"It could be potentially more dangerous for her because if she doesn't understand how to use the order or have a safety plan in place and doesn't have any support, then basically she's a sitting duck."

Shine client services director Jill Proudfoot said that the PSOs were a practical step. "We think it will give the victims a chance to consider their positions, to calm down and think clearly without any pressure."

It would allow the threatening person a "cooling-off" time and they could assess where their life was headed.

Ms Proudfoot said it was important to note that the victims did not have to agree to the PSO.

"The police issue it and it's a police decision."

But she was concerned it would mean extra work for her group.

"There have not been extra resources provided for agencies to do that so there's extra work but not extra people to do it."

Justice Minister Simon Power said that although the victim initiatives announced yesterday would not take away the pain, they would "make a real difference".

The changes will be funded by the $50 offender levy payable by anyone convicted of a crime from tomorrow.

Victim Support chief executive Tony Paine said prevention was the best way of reducing harm to victims of crime but that would be "inter-generational" and support for victims was important in the meantime.

The new resources would become an "essential part" of helping victims to deal with the aftermath of crime.

FROM TOMORROW

POLICE SAFETY ORDER

*Able to be issued and requires anyone who represents a threat to leave the premises for up to five days.(PSO)
*People at risk are protected by standard conditions similar to those in protection orders that come into effect for the duration of the PSO.

FOR FAMILIES OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS

*Up to $4500 for a funeral on top of amount they can claim from ACC.
*A High Court attendance grant of $124 a day for up to five adults.
*A discretionary grant of $1500-$5000 per family for those suffering financially.

FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

*A grant of up to $250 to meet one-off expenses incurred as a result of the assault (administered by Victim Support through a $500,000 fund).
*Eighteen trained and experienced sexual abuse victim advisers in courts.

OTHER VICTIMS

*Increases in travel, accommodation and childcare assistance for victims attending court and parole board hearings.
*New information resources including a DVD, pamphlets and a website.

- additional reporting: NZPA