A man breached a Domestic Abuse Protection Order just days after it was issued, leading to his imprisonment for eight months
Greater Manchester: A man thought he could dodge the rules, but it didn’t work out. Michael Mitchell, 46, was slapped with a Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) after some serious allegations. Even though the case against him fell apart when the alleged victim backed out, the police still got the order approved.
Just days after getting the DAPO, he didn’t show up at the police station as required. To make matters worse, he showed up at the woman’s home on Boxing Day. So, the police arrested him and he ended up in court again, where he got an eight-month sentence.
The police are now looking to extend the order even after he’s out of jail to keep the victim safe. DAPOs are pretty serious; they can restrict someone’s movements without needing a conviction. This means the police can step in even if the victim doesn’t want to go through a full court process.
In Greater Manchester, they’re testing these orders out, and it seems to be making a difference. The police are keen to enforce these rules strictly, and they want to make sure that anyone who breaks them faces real consequences. They’re planning to roll this out across the whole region soon.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, there are resources available. You can reach out to local helplines or the police for support. It’s important to know you’re not alone and there’s help out there.
