KEY POINTS:
Police are to be given powers to hand out on-the-spot protection orders when they are called to domestic violence incidents.
Alleged offenders would be removed from their homes for up to 72 hours under the changes announced by Justice Minister Annette King today.
She said: "The more we talk about domestic violence, and the more we create an environment in which victims of domestic violence feel able to report what is happening to them, the more chance we have of coming to grips with this scourge on our society."
New laws, which are in line with recommendations in a Justice Ministry review, will go before Parliament soon.
The review found that while the legislation was widely supported there was a need to change the role of the police and the courts and to further protect children in Family Court matters.
National's justice spokesman Simon Power said he supported giving police the power to issue on the spot protection orders - and it was his idea.
"Labour's policy is a copy of National's policy, which was announced by leader John Key on November 1 last year," he said.
"We believe giving police the ability to issue on the spot protection orders for suspected victims of domestic violence will be very effective in putting their immediate safety first."
Mr Power said it had taken Labour eight years to do anything about it.
Annette King's key proposals:
* Police would be able to issue on the spot short-term protection orders
* strengthening the penalties for breaching protection orders
* requiring the Family Court to scrutinise more carefully applications for discharging protection orders
* requiring criminal courts to consider making a protection order on behalf of the victim
* improving access to programmes for respondents, protected persons and their children
* ensuring further consistency in the use of lawyers for children and dealing with psychological abuse.
- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF
