Greater Manchester Police selected to pilot new scheme aimed at 'cracking down' on domestic abuse

Greater Manchester Police will take part in a pilot scheme aimed at 'cracking down' on domestic abusers by introducing new, tougher measures, it has been announced.

They are one of three forces nationwide to participate in the trial, which will see courts able to impose requirements such as attendance to perpetrator behaviour change programmes, alongside electronic monitoring and making it mandatory for offenders to notify the police of name and address changes.

The new measures, which are set to come in this summer, will also see coercive and controlling behaviour put on par with physical violence, with offenders that are sentenced to a year or more for the charge to be recorded on a ‘Violent and Sex Offender register'.

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Violence against women and girls will be classified as a national threat for policing and will be added as a strategic policing requirement for the first time, with officers saying it will be treated 'as seriously as threats like terrorism, serious and organised crime, and child sexual abuse'.

Detective Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, Head of Public Protection at GMP said she is 'delighted' that the force has been chosen alongside Gwent and three London boroughs (Croydon, Bromley, and Sutton), to pilot the scheme.

She added it was a reflection of the force's 'significant improvements made in our arrangements towards domestic abuse'.

Police say the measures will offer 'flexible, longer-term protection for victims', including an additional 18 'safe space' centres across the UK, where victims can receive emergency help and offered support from the police or support services.

Greater Manchester will also see