Calls for harsher punishment for protection order breaches

Ashlee Edwards was killed by her former partner Jimmy Akuhata in July 2012.

A woman whose daughter was murdered after breaches of a protection order wants the controversial three strikes law extended to prevent others suffering similar heartbreak.

Karen Edwards appeared before a law and order committee at Parliament yesterday and, with Ann Hodgetts, asked for harsher punishment for those breaching protection orders.

More than 700 people have signed a petition calling for controversial three strikes legislation to be extended to protection order breaches.

The hardline three strikes sentencing law imposes heavier penalties on repeat violent or sexual offenders, ensuring they receive the maximum allowable sentence for their crimes.

Convicted offenders receive a standard sentence after the first strike, generally a sentence without parole on their second, and the maximum sentence without parole for their final strike offence.

Labour and the Greens have opposed the law since it was passed in 2010.

Ms Edwards' daughter Ashlee Edwards was killed by her former partner Jimmy Akuhata in July 2012.

The mother of two had taken out a protection order against Akuhata two years earlier, and had told police of repeated breaches and threats.

They failed to investigate and were severely criticised after an investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).

Ms Hodgetts was also driven to push for law change after her daughter's former partner repeatedly breached a protection order.

The resulting punishment had been inadequate, she said, and she lived in fear for her daughter's safety.

Garth McVicar of the Sensible Sentencing Trust had supported the petition, Ms Hodgetts said.

Justice Minister Amy Adams said the punishments proposed by the petition for first and second breaches were less severe than those available under the existing law.

Ms Adams said there would soon be a review of the Domestic Violence Act which could include whether changes were needed to "make protection orders more accessible and effective".

Labour's justice spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern said it was concerning that breaches of protection orders were sometimes not followed-up on properly.

"Our concern is that we are not taking breaches as seriously as we need to, and that's leading to terrible and dire outcomes," she said.

"Waiting for three [offences] is far too long, we need to be acting much earlier."