NSW Gov
High-risk domestic violence offenders will be targeted by a new civil protection scheme in effect from today.
The Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Order (SDAPO) scheme allows courts to impose any conditions considered necessary to prevent domestic abuse perpetrators from using violence.
It's modelled on a scheme to combat organised crime and aims to keep relatives, children, and former, current or potential intimate partners of high-risk offenders safe from abuse and harm.
SDAPOs can last for up to five years and require the person who has the order imposed on them to report to a police station at a particular time, notify police when commencing an intimate partner relationship or of any dating profiles they create or use.
People who breach these orders face up to five years' imprisonment and/or a $33,000 fine.
These orders can be sought when:
- Someone has been convicted of two or more domestic violence offences with a maximum penalty of at least seven years imprisonment; or
- They have been charged with a 'serious domestic violence' offence against a relative or a current or former intimate partner. This applies whether the person has been tried, acquitted, or had their conviction quashed or set aside.
The NSW Government is investing $9.3 million to implement the SDAPO scheme created as part of amendments to the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 last year. It builds on the reforms we've made to build a safer NSW:
- Making it than ever for alleged domestic violence offenders to get bail and introducing electronic monitoring for those who are bailed, overseen by Corrective Services NSW.
- Bringing in tougher penalties for serious, repeat breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders.
Attorney General Michael Daley said:
"Domestic violence offenders are among the state's most dangerous criminals.
"These tough protection orders provide the strictest possible monitoring and supervision to help keep victim survivors safe from abuse and harm.
"The NSW Government is giving police and the courts every tool possible to hold these perpetrators to account and prevent further offending."
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:
"Addressing domestic and family violence requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-community response.
"These new protection orders give police and the courts stronger powers to keep a close watch on the state's most dangerous domestic violence offenders.
"We make no apologies for holding domestic violence offenders to account. These reforms are about protecting victim-survivors, preventing further harm and building a safer New South Wales."
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
"This new civil protection order scheme will put serious domestic and family violence offenders under strict monitoring and supervision.
"It's another crucial element of our work to build a safer News South Wales and support women and children towards a life free from violence and the fear of violence.
"We're continuing to strengthen protections for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence and hold perpetrators to account."
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