GMP have reached the six-week mark since beginning a government pilot of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) in Bury, which has already been making a positive difference to safeguarding victims of domestic abuse.
This week, the pilot has now been extended into Wigan.
In total, seven DAPOs have been issued since the start of the Bury pilot in November 2024, with a further one set to go before the courts next week.
A temporary order is currently in place whilst they await the outcome on a full order.
On Monday, GMP secured the biggest penalty so far for a breach of DAPO – Michael Mitchell aged 46 of no fixed abode was sentenced to eight months imprisonment.
Just before Christmas, a two-month DAPO was granted after Mitchell, who was on trial for domestic abuse offences, was acquitted of criminal prosecution due to the victim no longer supporting this.
Victims of domestic abuse may have a variety of reasons why they don’t want to go through with criminal prosecution, and police must take a victim-centred approach.
However, DAPOs can provide safeguarding and protection from risk to victims, without the need to go to court, and therefore police applied for one in this case.
Within days, Mitchell failed to attend Bury Police Station to sign on as part of his conditions, and attended the victim’s address on Boxing Day, when the order stated he couldn’t do so.
He was swiftly arrested, and in custody admitted the breaches. GMP are now working with criminal justice partners to extend the DAPO beyond the custodial sentence granted, to ensure the victim is safeguarded even when Mitchell is released.
Detective Superintendent Toby Facey, force lead for domestic abuse, said, “We are already starting to see what a difference DAPOs can make to victims of all kinds of domestic abuse, and I know this will continue as we begin rolling the pilot out further in Greater Manchester.
“It’s important that we are robust in the enforcement of these orders, ensuring all breaches are swiftly dealt with, and perpetrators held to account for their actions. The fact that we have seen only this week such a significant custodial sentence passed for breaching one of these orders shows how seriously these are being treated by the criminal justice system, and the punishments perpetrators may face.
“The pilot in Bury will continue, as we now extend this into Wigan, where we unfortunately have higher levels of domestic abuse reports. Our plan is to have DAPOs available in all areas of Greater Manchester in the coming months, in what will be the biggest pilot of these orders in the UK. This is an important part of achieving the policing priorities within the city-region’s Gender-Based Violence Strategy.”
