Hazel Hape, manager of Tauranga Women's Refuge. Photo / File
Hazel Hape, manager of Tauranga Women's Refuge. Photo / File
Urgent protection orders - a potentially life-saving tool - are on the rise in the Bay of Plenty. But is this a good thing? Cira Olivier reports.
A rise in the number of urgent protection orders being issued is being partly attributed to "hugely improved" police processes for dealing withfamily harm.
However, the local women's refuge says while they are crucial, the rise paints a gruesome picture of what's going on.
Protection orders can be applied for to ensure one person can't contact the person protected by the order. They can be applied for without notice if there are fears for immediate safety or if a delay in getting a protection order might put you or your children in danger.
Recently released data from the Ministry of Justice shows the number of applications for urgent orders is increasing.
In the Bay of Plenty, which includes Tauranga, Waihī, Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Thames, there were 335 urgent applications last year, up 17.5 per cent on the 285 the year before and 26 per cent on the 266 applications in 2015.
In the Waiariki region, which includes Rotorua, Taupō, Taumarunui and Tokoroa, there were 265 urgent applications last year. That was up 31 per cent on the 202 the year before and 55 per cent on the 171 in 2015.
Tauranga Women's Refuge manager Hazel Hape said the rise in these kinds of orders was a reflection of the rising level of violence and disturbing acts against women.
The refuge covered Tauranga District and Western Bay of Plenty and Hape said the abuse they saw included strangulation, being kicked, shoved, spat at, scratched and pushed.
"Isolated, locked up, dragged down the road by cars, hog-tied ... these are things we see every day."
She said the process of getting a protection order was not easy, as women needed to make themselves vulnerable to a stranger and tell their story of violence and abuse.
"You're revealing the most intimate vulnerabilities of yourself."
She said protection orders were one tool to save lives. There is also a stop violence programme for abusers and a safety programme for children and adults.
Hazel Hape, manager of Tauranga Women's Refuge. Photo / File
"We're concerned about the legal aid funding for women who are victims of domestic violence.
"Women shouldn't have to pay to obtain a legal tool to save their life.
"It should be a right because it's about the protection of human life and the life of children.
Waiariki Women's Refuge manager Paula Coker said the rise in urgent protection orders came down to an increasing level of violence.
She said despite the increase in the number of orders issued, some victims were not enforcing them and they could be the thing to save a life.
"They work as much as a person allows it to work. A woman can have a protection order but she's not necessarily going to use it."
She said there were a number of circumstantial reasons for a victim to not use it, some who did not know how to, and others not wanting their partner to get into trouble.
Waiariki Women's Refuge manager Paula Coker. Photo / File
"I know of a woman who continuously gets assaulted quite badly ... even though she has a protection order, she refuses to call the police.
"Quite often women won't make a police statement ... I think it's around the repercussions of having police involvement but it can also be really daunting.
"These women love their partners, they don't love their behaviour."
The refuge pushes for protection orders because as the violence progresses, the options of how it will turn out for victims narrows.
"The next step is imminent harm, if not death."
Protection w
Coker said they had seen a rise in the number of women they helped apply for protection orders. Putting protection plans in place was a priority, she said.
"It's about empowering women to regain their power and control."
Rotorua Police area commander Inspector Phil Taikato said the increase in protection orders was partly down to the "hugely improved" police processes dealing with family harm.
"The various multi-agency family harm response initiatives, society's growing intolerance to this plague and improved legislation that makes it easier to keep our victims safe."
Taikato said urgent orders were put in place by police when there was an immediate risk of physical harm, a need to avoid serious harm or unjust hardship.
Inspector Phil Taikato. Photo / Supplied
"Battered woman's syndrome is real and sometimes we have to be creative, within the boundaries of the law, to keep these women and their children safe."
He said a lot of work needed to be done to encourage people to report family harm incidents more often.
It was estimated police were called to only 20 per cent of family harm incidents.
"More importantly, [the nation needs to] understand that it is not okay to beat, belittle or besiege those you are supposed to love and protect."
There was an array of legislation at police disposal to deal with harm in the home, including physical violence, psychological and emotional harm.
