Grieving mum calls for change

For Okaihau mum Karen Edwards, the call for tougher penalties for those who breach protection orders has come too late.

Her 21-year-old daughter Ashlee, mother of two girls, was found dead beside a Whangarei river on July 2012. Two months before her death Ashlee made two complaints to police that former partner Jimmy Akuhata had breached a protection order, which had been in place since 2010, by sending text and voice messages.

Akuhata has been charged with her murder, but is under assessment to see whether he is fit to plead and continue through the court process.

Now Mrs Edwards is urging people to sign a petition calling for a tougher stance, asking for the implementation of a 'three strikes' policy for breaches of protection orders.

"I have been left angry, damn angry," she said.

"We are appalled that Ashlee's complaints to Whangarei police about Akuhata breaching the order against him were not adequately followed through."

The petition calls for a first breach resulting in a strike warning and confiscation of the offender's cell phone and computer. A second breach within three years would bring a second strike warning and a $5000 fine, paid to the victim, or a compulsory six-month jail term. A third strike in three years would attract a minimum of three years' jail.

Currently breaching a protection order is punishable by a maximum of three years' jail.

Mrs Edwards believes that while protection orders need to be better-enforced, the only way to stop the cycle of violence is to educate the offenders.

"I wish there was mandatory assistance for them with professional psychologists, mediators, life coaches and life-changing programmes to help improve their lives," she said.

A Whangarei woman who also knows the devastation of domestic violence is Kate McGrath. Her sister-in-law, Patricia (Wowo) McGrath died after being assaulted by her partner, Phillip Andre Mahanga. He was sentenced to three years' jail for the manslaughter of the 34-year-old mother of two.

Mrs McGrath has now joined with Mrs Edwards to spread the word about the petition. She said the current law needed more teeth to make sure protection orders were not treated as just another piece of paper.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority found that complaints by Ashlee Edwards about protection order breaches had not been properly investigated by the police. It found there was a failure among all the police involved in the case to take ownership of her first complaint, and to appreciate the urgency and significance of the situation.

Since then, police in Northland have made significant changes.

Criminal investigations manager Detective Inspector Kevin Burke said those changes included making breaches of a protection order a priority. If there was a breach and the offender had left by the time police arrived, the case was deemed a 'hot file,' and given priority.

Police statistics show nationally 2063 final protection orders were issued last year. Police received 2819 calls about breaches, resulting in just over 1900 convictions. In Northland there were 347 recorded breaches of violence and non-violence restraining orders, up from 310 in 2013, and 219 in 2011.

Mrs Edwards and Mrs McGrath hope to deliver the petition to Parliament before the end of the month. For a copy email protectionorder@outlook.co.nz; it can also be signed online at petition24.com/breach-of-protection-orders