Woman admits breaching domestic violence protection order

A woman was caught breaching an order designed to protect victims of domestic abuse during a safeguarding visit by police officers.

Julie Cockburn had previously become abusive and threatened to kill her former partner, which left them fearing for their safety.

The 49-year-old was made the subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order on January 15, which prevented her from contacting the victim or visiting his address.

During a victim safeguarding visit, two police officers discovered that Cockburn had breached the order just two days later.

In total, Cockburn breached the order three times when she visited the victim’s home and rang him twice over two days.

The officers then tracked Cockburn down and arrested her later the same afternoon.

Domestic Violence Protection Orders are a civil order that provides further protection to victims.

It allows police forces and magistrates’ courts to put immediate measures in place after a domestic violence incident where there is insufficient evidence to charge a perpetrator and provide protection via bail conditions.

The order has the power to ban a domestic violence perpetrator from returning to an address or contacting the victim for up to 28 days.

Cockburn, of Nuthall Road, Nottingham, admitted breaching the order when they appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on January 19.

She was ordered to pay a fine that was served due to time spent in custody and £177 in legal costs.

Penalties for persistent breaches of an order can include a maximum fine of £5,000 or a two-month jail sentence.

The breach was discovered as part of Operation Saltash, which proactively polices domestic violence and stalking protection orders to help safeguard victims from further harm.

Detective Sergeant Rachel Sisson is part of Nottinghamshire Police’s Prevention Hub, which is a collaboration between multiple force departments responsible for developing and delivering strategies to prevent crime and disorder throughout the city and county.

She said: “We are proactively seeking out order breaches through robust action and knocking on doors as part of safeguarding visits.

“I am pleased Cockburn has been sentenced for this offence, as she clearly poses a risk to the welfare of her former partner.

“This effective policing of orders gives victims the reassurance that protection orders are taken seriously and provides them with further safeguarding.”