Police Safety Orders now operational

Police Safety Orders (PSOs) became operational on 1 July. Police can now require any person who represents a threat to their family to leave the premises for up to five days.

Senior Sergeant Mark Cousins from the Violence Reduction Unit, PNHQ, says feedback from staff about the new powers has been positive.

“Our officers have been wanting something like this for a long time,” he says.

A PSO places standard conditions that mirror those in Protection Orders, for the duration of the PSO.

“It gives us something tangible to do for families where we know their situation is likely to worsen once Police have left if we’ve been unable to arrest for an offence,” says Mark.

“This gives the person at risk, including children, some breathing room and time to decide what they can do to improve their situation.”

Last year Police identified more than 91,000 family violence incidents and offences.

Family violence training at the Police College. Photo: John Nicholson Photography Ltd

Victims of family violence are also the victims of the most serious violence. Recorded figures show approximately 30 percent of adult sexual assaults occur in the family home, as do at least 60 percent of child abuse, 55 percent of serious assaults and 42 percent of all homicides.

“There are a lot of families who are going to benefit from PSOs,” Mark says.

Other initiatives to support victims were also launched last month, including a Ministry of Justice DVD that takes victims of serious crime through the process of what happens to their case – from the time they report it to Police through to the court case, sentencing and parole or release from prison.

Police helped make the DVD and there are interviews with a number of police staff who are experts in their field, as well as with real victims about their experiences with police and with the court process.