Domestic Abuse Protection Order pilot reaches six weeks in Bury, and expands this week to Wigan
The Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) pilot in Bury has reached six weeks, showing positive results in safeguarding domestic abuse victims. The pilot has now expanded to Wigan, with seven DAPOs issued in Bury and one pending. A notable case involved Michael Mitchell, who received an eight-month sentence for breaching his DAPO. The pilot aims to provide protection without requiring victims to go through criminal prosecution. Enforcement has been robust, with penalties ranging from fines to prison sentences. The initiative is part of Greater Manchester's Gender-Based Violence Strategy and will expand across the region.
Greater Manchester Expands Domestic Abuse Protection Order Pilot After Early Success
Greater Manchester Police has extended its pioneering Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) pilot to Wigan after issuing seven orders in Bury since the scheme launched six weeks ago, with officials reporting immediate positive impacts on victim safety.
The most significant penalty to date came Monday when Michael Mitchell, born 26 November 1978, received an eight-month prison sentence for violating his DAPO conditions. Mitchell had been acquitted of domestic abuse charges just before Christmas when the victim withdrew support for prosecution, but police secured a two-month protective order instead. He breached the order within days by failing to sign on at Bury Police Station and appearing at the victim’s address on Boxing Day, leading to his swift arrest and guilty admission while in custody.
Other successful enforcement actions include a 12-week prison term for multiple violations including failing to sign on, breaching contact prohibitions, and drug possession, plus an £80 fine for missing a sign-in appointment. One additional DAPO case is scheduled for court next week, with a temporary order currently protecting the victim.
Detective Superintendent Toby Facey, force lead for domestic abuse, emphasized the orders’ effectiveness: “We are already starting to see what a difference DAPOs can make to victims of all kinds of domestic abuse, and I know this will continue as we begin rolling the pilot out further in Greater Manchester.”
The expansion to Wigan, chosen for its higher domestic abuse reporting rates, marks the next phase of what will become the UK’s largest DAPO pilot, with plans to make the orders available across all Greater Manchester areas in coming months as part of the region’s Gender-Based Violence Strategy.
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