Five Men Sent to Prison for Breaching Domestic Abuse Protection Orders

Greater Manchester Police have utilized new powers to protect domestic abuse victims 119 times in the past four months.

These Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) were introduced in November 2022 and have since expanded to Wigan and Manchester. They prevent contact between victims and their abusers.

Currently, 119 DAPOs have been issued across the three boroughs, with 45 breaches reported, leading to the imprisonment of five men.

In a tragic case, Caroline Gore, 44, was fatally stabbed by her ex-partner in Wigan in October 2023, just weeks after he avoided jail for breaching a previous restraining order.

The M.E.N. is advocating for mandatory minimum sentences for offenders who violate protective orders, such as David Liptrot, who repeatedly ignored such mandates.

Liptrot's case is among the 119 secured DAPOs in the early months of the pilot program, involving three police forces.

These orders can be requested through criminal, family, or civil court proceedings, by police, victims, or a third party.

DAPOs permit police intervention without the victim's consent and mandate regular compliance checks by officers.

By the end of March, 45 breaches were identified, primarily due to offenders failing to register as mandated.

Five men who breached their orders by contacting victims have received prison sentences ranging from 14 weeks to four years.

The government aims for DAPOs to replace Domestic Violence Protection Orders, offering a more effective long-term solution with no time limits on enforcement.

Report and Support Information

All domestic abuse victims are urged to report incidents to the police by calling 999 in emergencies or 101 for non-urgent matters.

Support is available for anyone experiencing domestic abuse, including language services and advice for the LGBT community.