A RADICAL new way of tackling domestic abuse has begun in Wiltshire today.

The county's police force is one of three in England to pilot new powers which will enable suspects of domestic violence to be banned from returning to the victim's address when there is not enough evidence to prosecute.

Wiltshire's Chief Constable Brian Moore saw how the new powers, commonly known as Go Orders, worked in other European countries. He is also the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on domestic violence and the Home Office agreed to three forces, including Wiltshire, piloting the new powers for 12 months.

Under the scheme a police Superintendent can authorise a Domestic Violence Protection Notice banning a suspect from returning to the victim's address (which could also be their own home), or the area around it and from contacting the victim.

The notice lasts for 48 hours after which the Superintendent has to apply to a magistrates court for a Domestic Violence Protection Order with the same conditions which lasts up to 28 days. Suspects can challenge the application in court.

Wiltshire's Chief Constable Brian Moore said: "Currently perpetrators are released with no restrictions upon their behaviour at a time when we know that risk is heightened for the victim.

"Protection for the victim in the immediate aftermath of a domestic violence incident is not currently available and often the only option is for the victim and children to be removed from the home. In my view that is a grotesque situation."

He likened the Go Orders to an emergency injunction which would give victims and suspects breathing space to take stock and seek help.

He said: "The Superintendent will issue the notice if there are reasonable grounds to believe violence has taken place in a particular household and on the balance of probabilities that violence will continue."

If the notice or order is breached by the suspect then he/she will be arrested and could be jailed for up to two years.

Maggie Rae, director of public health in Wiltshire and chairman of Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership, said: "I think the Go Orders will transform how we look at domestic abuse in our county. Domestic abuse could happen to any one of us.

"It's not a deprivation issue, it can happen to anybody in society from the richest to the poorest, and it's a cycle we have to stop.

"We spend a lot of time in the health service patching up victims of domestic abuse, it’s horrific.

“It’s difficult for women and men to admit they have been beaten up, it’s embarrassing. For many years victims think ‘it’s my fault, If I had put the tea cooked or had cleaned the house it wouldn’t have happened.’ Nobody asks to have violence against them, any violence against them is wrong.”

Posters aimed at perpetrators and victims are being distributed across the county for display in places such as pubs, clubs, council offices, hospitals, GP surgeries and police stations.