Four new offences are to come into force in Guernsey, to give police more power to protect victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

The State's Assembly unanimously approved Home Affairs’ new Domestic Abuse Law on 23 October.

The legislation was based on both Scottish and Isle of Man legislation.

It creates four new offences.

• One specifically for domestic abuse.
• An offence for Child cruelty, that includes non-physical forms of cruelty, that can apply to anyone with responsibility for a child.
• Causing or allowing death or serious harm in the household.
• Threatening to disclose private sexual images.

Domestic abuse protection notices and order will also be introduced, which can impose longer-term requirements and prohibitions on offenders.

Breaches of these orders will be a criminal offence.

An amendment to harassment legislation will also allow restraining orders to be imposed after conviction for any offence, or after acquittal.

Home Affairs Lead on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault is Deputy Sue Aldwell.

She says this work will ensure the Courts, law enforcement and supporting services have the proper avenues to tackle offenders.

“No issue has been more important to me, and the value of these changes cannot be overstated.

Victims of domestic abuse have been at the front and centre of our minds when working on this new Law.

We wanted to modernise the law in a way which properly supports and protects them, and move the Bailiwick past the days where certain types of offenders fall through gaps in our then-outdated legislation.

This new Law will certainly achieve that, and the Committee will now be monitoring the number of cases coming through the Police and the Courts to see what impact this Law has.

I am particularly pleased that we have been able to bring so many services together to deliver this legislation, from the police to the probation service, and from charities such as Safer to the Courts.

They will all be working together to train on the new laws, protect victims and prosecute offenders going forwards.”

Training is now being devised and put in place ahead of the legislation ‘going live’, which will happen when it is given Royal Assent in the coming months.