A pilot scheme in North Yorkshire has improved how police officers and safeguarding professionals provide back up support to non-molestation orders (NMOs) issued to domestic abuse survivors, according to the county’s police force.
“The new ways of working identified by Project Shield have enabled us to respond more effectively when victims report breaches of their NMO to us,” North Yorkshire’s chief constable Lisa Winward said at a seminar hosted by the county’s police force.
“Vitally it’s also allowed us to take early and decisive safeguarding action to prevent harm from occurring,” she was quoted as saying by sector journal Police Professional.
The constabulary has worked with the Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS), the court service, Edge Hill University and IT consulting company CGI to devise Project Shield.
Sarah Hill, chief executive officer of IDAS, said: “Obtaining a civil order can be a costly process both financial and emotionally and they are often obtained at the most high-risk time, when victims are attempting to leave a relationship with an abusive perpetrator.
“It is for this reason that there must be no delay in rolling out these improvements nationally so that victims and survivors can experience the benefits of improved safeguarding.”
