The new Public Protection Division (PPD) provides teams of highly skilled and experience officers who are dedicated to investigating crimes against vulnerable people, targeting offenders and supporting victims.

Its introduction is in response to the fact that public protection is recognised as a high risk area of policing. GMP also acknowledges the need to change its approach to investigations and supporting vulnerable people. In recent years, a number of high profile cases, which have included the deaths of Clare Wood and Amy Leigh Barnes, have led to criticism from the IPCC and coroners about GMP’s ability to deal effectively with cases involving vulnerable people.

Head of the PPD, Detective Chief Superintendent Mary Doyle believes that this is a huge step forward in protecting victims and targeting offenders.  “The introduction of the new Public Protection Division demonstrates our commitment to protecting vulnerable people, investigating cases thoroughly and bringing offenders to justice.

“We have responded dynamically to recent cases where failings were identified, recognised that mistakes have been made in the past and are committed to ensuring that they will not happen in the future.

“Having a dedicated team of specially trained officers means that we now have the flexibility to deploy our resources effectively and ensure lines of communication with victims, witnesses and all agencies that provide essential support services, are efficient.”

The new PPD has taken on the management responsibility for the Divisional Public Protection Investigation Units (PPIUs), which will remain based on divisions and staffed in accordance to demand. It also draws together the existing Serious Crime Division units such as the Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons Unit, the Sex Offender Management Unit and the Sexual Crimes Unit.

In addition, a new Serious Sexual Offences Investigation unit will be introduced this summer to deal with all cases of rape across Greater Manchester ensuring a consistent approach for victims, no matter what the circumstances of the incident are, and help to bring more offenders to justice.

“It is early days, but we have already started to see some significant improvements in this diverse area of policing with some excellent results. However, it is important that we do not become complacent.”

• intend to apply for permission to settle in the UK following the breakdown of their relationship as a result of domestic violence; and 
• require access to public funds.

The introduction of the Destitution Domestic Violence (DDV) concession replaces the successful Sojourner project and is aimed at protecting victims of domestic abuse, by allowing them to notify us that they need to access public funds while they make a claim for indefinite leave to remain as a victim of domestic violence.

You can notify the UK Border Agency of your need to access public funds under this policy if:

• you entered the UK or were given leave to remain in the UK as a spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex partner of a British Citizen or someone present and settled in the UK; and
• your relationship has broken down due to domestic violence; and
• you do not have the means to access accommodation or to support yourself and need financial help; and
• you are going to make a claim to stay permanently in the UK under the Domestic Violence Immigration Rule (Settlement DV)

Click here to access the Home Office UK Border Agency information

0344 515 1640

Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm

Shelter, Manchester CLAS

5 Samuel Ogden Street, M1 7AX

The orders are being tested by the Greater Manchester, Wiltshire and West Mercia police forces. Det Supt Philip Owen said DVPOs allowed victims “to escape their abuser” without fleeing. The magistrate-granted orders ban people who have committed domestic violence from contacting their victims or entering their home, with those who breach the rules sentenced to up to six weeks in prison. Mr Owen said they had given police and other agencies a new approach to dealing with domestic violence.

‘Protect vulnerable people’

“In the past where there was no other alternative, police and partners would remove the victim and their family away from their home to a place of safety,” he said. “However, under this pilot, the perpetrator is the one who has to move out of the home and who is held to account, allowing the victims to stay in their own homes rather than flee to a friend’s home, or a refuge, to escape their abuser. “The courts can order the perpetrator not to go near the victim for up to 28 days and that allows the victim to take stock and decide where they want to be. “They can get help from Victim Support Services, solicitors and other support services who can draw up a safety plan.”

A 64-year-old woman who was granted a DVPO who had suffered abuse from her partner for 21 years said it had changed her life. “The DVPO allowed me to be free from abuse and start a whole new life for myself,” she said. “I would urge any other victims to report abuse as there really is help out there.”

Councillor Suzanne Richards, lead member for women’s issues at Manchester City Council, said DVPOs were “another tool” being used by the agencies involved with helping victims of domestic abuse. “We are using DVPOs to turn this situation on its head and help protect vulnerable people,” she said. “The fact that 100 have been issued demonstrates there is a genuine need for them.”

The pilot of DVPOs runs until summer 2012, when the Home Office will decide if they will be made available to all police forces.

The region is already piloting powers banning domestic violence suspects from their own homes for up to a month if police can show they have ‘reasonable grounds’ – even if the alleged victim does not wish to complain. Now Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor for the north west, told the M.E.N: “I expect my prosecutors to prepare each domestic violence case as if it was a case without the victim’s support. If, tragically, that victim were to be killed, then we would prepare the case on that basis.

“Why, therefore, can we not do it in all such cases? “More and more. the police conduct investigations and prosecutors build cases focusing on other evidence in addition to the evidence from the victim themselves. “It might be the tape of the 999 call, photographs taken by police of the victim’s injuries, or the damage caused, or statements from neighbours or family who have heard or seen an assault.”

The north west has more domestic violence as a proportion of total crime than any other part of the country. An estimated 100,000 women experience at least one incident of domestic abuse each year in the region, and 12 are killed in domestic homicides.  Last year, there were 65,915 recorded cases of domestic abuse in Greater Manchester. The Crown Prosecution Service already takes more cases to court than anywhere else in Britain.  But Mr Afzal said he was determined to do more – and claimed they had already has success in prosecuting cases without the victim’s consent.

December and January traditionally see a spike in domestic violence cases, which experts put down to a combination of factors including alcohol and the economic pressures of Christmas.  Last year, the M.E.N. revealed how there had been 466 attacks on January 1– the highest of any day of the year and more than twice the average number.

Greater Manchester has also seen a number of high-profile murder cases which started with domestic abuse.

Manchester Evening News   19th  December 2011

0845 456 8800

Opening times

Monday – Friday 8am – 8 pm and Saturday 9am – 5 pm

Ministers are planning a shake-up of domestic violence laws that could see “controlling” partners face criminal charges.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is to launch a new consultation within days aimed at bringing in a legal definition of what constitutes abuse against a spouse or partner.

There were more than one million victims of domestic violence in England and Wales last year, according to the Home Office. Across the UK, one in four women are
likely to experience some level of domestic abuse. At present there is no specific criminal offence of domestic violence in Britain, although that may be about to change.

Survivors of domestic abuse have hailed the news as a step in the right direction. “When it starts off they are very careful and you don’t even realise it’s occurring,” said broadcaster Sonia Poulton, who was in an abusive relationship for three years. “The important thing people need to realise is that it isn’t just physical. He never laid a finger on me. “It’s more dangerous because it takes longer to realise what’s taking place.

“I went to bed every night and cried myself asleep because I was in love with him. “He would criticise my clothes, my hair, even my friends. When anyone called on the phone he would just stand there in the background… a seething, silent presence.”

The consultation could also be extended to take in those under 18 for the first time amid concern that teenage girls in particular are suffering at the hands of abusive boyfriends. The new definition would also cover women who bully their partners.

 Stop Tafficking controlling you, poster

Freephone 0800 783 2589

101 replaces the current GMP non-emergency number 0161 872 5050 and provides one easy to remember number that will make it easier for you to contact police wherever you are in the UK. Calls from landlines and mobile networks cost 15 pence per call, no matter what time of day or how long you are on the phone for.

Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired callers can access the service

via textphone on 18001 101.