Refuge, the leading organisation combatting domestic violence, has welcomed recent changes to the law.
From late September, courts in England and Wales have greater powers to grant restraining orders to protect victims of domestic violence.
Previously, courts were only able to issue restraining orders following conviction for specific offences. Now abused women will be able to obtain protection without having to go to a separate court or to find the funding to pay for civil orders.
Enforcement of any restraining orders remains key to protecting victims.
In the most extreme cases, men who have been allowed to breach bail conditions with impunity have gone on to murder their partners. Refuge say it is essential that bail conditions and restraining orders are more rigorously enforced, and the Government must provide the courts and police with the resources and training needed to ensure that this happens.
More information is available from the Refuge website.
