As part of the Government’s new plan to “crackdown on domestic abusers on a large scale”, GMP will pilot the new Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Orders in the Greater Manchester region.
This cross-jurisdictional order aims to provide flexible and longer-term protection for victims.
This ultimately means that that the court will be able to impose requirements – such as attendance to perpetrator behaviour change programmes – alongside electronic monitoring and making it mandatory for offenders to notify the police of name and address changes, according to GMP – with a breach of any requirement being a criminal offence that could result in fines, up to five years in prison, or a combination of both.
GMP will also be required to work with The Home Office to “proactively highlight and reiterate” who the most dangerous domestic abusers are in their force area to prevent them from committing further crimes.
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A new assessment tool will also help police identify domestic abusers who are most likely to commit greatest harm – including those without convictions.
Some of the other measures being introduced as part of the pilot scheme will see coercive and controlling behaviour put on par with physical violence, and offenders that are sentenced to a year or more for controlling and coercive behaviour will be recorded on the ‘Violent and Sex Offender register’, alongside other dangerous domestic abuse perpetrators.
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Violence against women and girls will also be classified as a national threat for policing, and will be added as a strategic policing requirement for the first time.
Greater protection for victims of domestic abuse will be enforced to ensure they receive the correct support for their needs.
On top of this, the Government has committed to establishing 18 centres across the UK that will be recognised as ‘safe spaces’ for victims of abuse to receive emergency help.
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There, they will be offered “appropriate support from the police or support services”.
Greater Manchester Police to pilot new measures to tackle domestic abuse / Credit: GMP
GMP’s Detective Chief Superintendent, Michaela Kerr, says the force has been chosen for the pilot in recognition of “the significant improvements” it has made in its “arrangements towards domestic abuse”.
“There will no longer need to be violence involved to meet the rounds for an order to be issued,” she explained, “and this will particularly strengthen our opportunities around coercive control and can be used all types of domestic abuse whether it be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial.”
#CLARESLAW | GMP & other police forces across the UK are allowed to disclose information to a potential victim of domestic abuse, if you believe your partner may be a danger to you.
DCS Kerr said the pilot scheme means GMP will ensure that it “maximises every opportunity that this gives us to better protect victims and reassure the public that we’re all working together to improve our response to domestic abuse.
“If you are a victim of domestic abuse, know someone who is or has been affected by domestic abuse or violence, we can support you.
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“We would urge those who are being domestically abused in any form to contact us directly as GMP can also put you in touch with other support organisations that understand your specific needs.
GMP anticipates the pilot will be officially launched in June 2023.
Featured Image – iStockPhoto
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Andy Burnham explains why Number 10 North is so important as it officially ‘opens for business’
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has explained his key reasons for launching Number 10 North as it officially ‘opens for business’ this week.
You may remember that earlier last month, Andy Burnham revealed he had intentions to create a Number 10 North if he was to become Prime Minister, with the new base expected to be a ‘dominant driver of the UK’s economy’ once it was officially up and running… and now, fast forward to today, Number 10 North is officially ‘open for business’.
Operating from Heron House in Manchester city centre, as previously reported on, Number 10 North will be the Government’s new ‘situation room for growth’.
It also brings the ‘levers’ of local economic growth and devolution together under one roof for the first time ever.
Number 10 North has officially ‘opened for business’ / Credit: gov.uk (via Wikimedia Commons)
With the Prime Minister expected to work from Number 10 North each week, so that decisions about the country’s economic future will no longer exclusively be made in Westminster, and with other ministers also working from there on a regular basis, the Government says the move underlines its determination to ‘do things differently’.
Now that Number 10 North has officially opened, Andy Burnham and his fellow ministers have explained why this move is so important for not just Manchester, but the north as a whole.
“For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre, and too many communities have felt forgotten, without the attention and investment they deserve,” explained Andy Burnham.
“Number 10 North will change that by putting more power into every postcode across the entire country. It will be the situation room for making Britain better, the place we use to get power out of Westminster, into the hands of people at a local level, so that they can turn things around.
“The days of Whitehall resisting devolution are over, for good.”
First Secretary Louise Haigh added: “Today marks a fundamental re-balancing of where power sits in our country. Number 10 North has been set up to drive economic growth in every postcode and put power in the hands of every community.
“Through this department, this Government will ensure that the places overlooked by Westminster for decades are given a real voice.
“Number 10 North is open for business.”
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Scissors, toy guns, and baseball bat among 100+ items confiscated by security at Manchester Airport
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Airport has revealed a shocking list over 100 items confiscated by security staff in just one morning.
And honestly, you won’t believe some of the things people have tried to take on a plane.
With schools across Greater Manchester having now broken up for the summer holidays, and families getting ready to jet off on their holidays, Manchester Airport is urging all passengers travelling over the next six weeks to make sure they know the hand luggage rules before boarding the plane, after more than 100 items recently had to be confiscated by security in one morning alone.
12 pairs of scissors, 10 toy guns, seven corkscrews, four knives, two loose chisels, a pair of pliers, and even a baseball bat were among the items forming part of the shocking confiscation haul.
On top of this, security also confiscated dozens of cosmetic products, drinks bottles, and food items like multipacks of yoghurts.
Scissors, toy guns, and a baseball bat are among 100+ items confiscated by security at Manchester Airport / Credit: Manchester Airport
Although new 3D scanning technology has been installed at both of Manchester Airport’s terminals now, making the process smoother overall, those travelling during the busy summer period are reminded that attempting to bring non-compliant items through airport security causes delays for themselves and for others.
Airport security bosses are encouraging people to reacquaint themselves with the rules for hand luggage before packing for their journey.
“We’re proud of the role we play in getting people’s journeys off to the right start, and more than 97% of our passengers are getting through security checks in under 15 minutes,” commented Sakib Mahmood, who is the Security Duty Manager for T2 at Manchester Airport
All if these items were confiscated in just one morning / Credit: Manchester Airport
“But each time we have to pull a bag aside for a manual search it can take several minutes, and that can quickly start to add up and create delays.
“The range of items confiscated here in just a few hours shows what our security officers are up against every day, but when it comes to working out what is restricted and what is not, we know some items are more obvious than others.
“If you take a moment to reacquaint yourself with the rules before packing your hand luggage, it can save you lots of time when you get to Security, and avoids you losing items like water guns or bottles of suncream that you want to take on your holiday with you.
“In many cases, items like these which may fall foul of hand luggage restrictions can be taken in your hold luggage, so if in any doubt, pack the item in your suitcase rather than your carry-on bag.”
Emily Sergeant -
21st February 2023 
