The protectors

PROTECTING the vulnerable . . . (from left) assistant chief constable Ian Hopkins, judge Ian Hamilton and chief crown prosecutor for Greater Manchester, John Holt

A GROUNDBREAKING agreement will see Greater Manchester lead the way in protecting vulnerable people.

It will mean the police and courts working closer together to protect victims of domestic abuse, forced marriage and harassment.

The region’s Family Justice Council joins the police and their partners to provide services through the family and civil courts which safeguard such victims.

Its protocol sets out the working arrangements between the family, civil and criminal justice systems which ensures victims and children are properly protected by any orders made in the family and civil courts.

When such orders are breached, they ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and held accountable for their actions.

Now, through partnership working under the umbrella of the local Family Justice Council Domestic Violence Sub-Group, a closer and more streamlined way of closing the gap between the criminal, family and civil process has been agreed.

As soon as relevant orders are made, the courts and those representing victims will share information with the police about those who are said to have subjected victims to domestic abuse, forced marriage or harassment. This will enable partners to respond quickly and effectively when it is alleged an order has been breached. Offenders can be jailed for up to five years for breaching an order.

Ian Hopkins, assistant chief constable for public protection at Greater Manchester Police, said: “Protecting vulnerable people sits at the very core of our work. The focus is to ensure victims are properly protected which will increase their own confidence and enable them to break the cycle of domestic abuse.”

Help is available for domestic abuse victims by calling GMP on 0161-872 5050 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.