The Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act has come into force in Jamaica, giving more clout to the protection orders courts can issue to protect victims from harm and harassment.
Those who breach an order now face up to one year in prison and a penalty of up to 1,000,000 Jamaican dollars (£5,900), compared with six months and 10,000 dollars previously.
“Let the word go from here that we are serious about dealing with domestic abuse. A new day has come for protecting victims and increasing the punishment for perpetrators of domestic abuse,” government minister Olivia Grange was quoted as saying in the country’s House of Representatives.
