Simon Power

Wellington, July 19 NZPA - Police have issued 126 on-the-spot safety orders for victims of domestic violence since the law came into force at the beginning of this month, Justice Minister Simon Power said today.

The orders give police the power to remove a potentially violent person from a home for up to five days in situations where there are no immediate grounds for arrest but the police think there is a likelihood of further violence occurring.

They are intended to provide a "cooling down" period for both parties, giving the victim time to consider their options while making it clear to the offender that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

"I see these orders as a vital tool because they are designed to stop domestic violence from escalating and they tackle the problem before it is too late," Mr Power said at the launch of the Women's Refuge annual appeal.

"Obviously I'm saddened that they have to be issued at all, one is too many let alone 126, but I'm pleased that we have been able to use this tool to defuse potentially serious problems and make our homes safer places."

Mr Power said police estimated they could issue around 20,000 orders a year.

Outlining other previously-announced law changes around victims of crime, he said July 1 also marked the introduction of the $50 levy which is paid by all convicted offenders at sentencing.

He said it was expected to generate $13.6 million for victims of crime in its first four years.

"All of that money is going towards a range of initiatives for victims, including more financial assistance for homicide victims' families and victims of sexual violence, and 18 specialised sexual violence court support workers."

Mr Power said he was not finished with victim law reform and would next year introduce a new Victims Rights Act.

"I'm also determined to change the way our courts treat child victims and witnesses and the victims of sexual violence," he said.

"I am deeply concerned about how our adversarial court system is re-brutalising our most vulnerable people, and I'm considering big changes in this regard," he said.